The White House has urged Americans to reconsider their career paths and focus on blue-collar jobs, amid rapid transformations driven by artificial intelligence, which is increasingly threatening white-collar and administrative positions in major corporations.
The call was made by Peter Navarro, senior adviser to President Donald Trump on trade and manufacturing, who warned that many white-collar jobs could disappear faster than expected, according to Newsweek.
AI, Manufacturing, and the Future of Work
In a televised interview, Navarro said the age of artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the labor market, arguing that pursuing industrial and skilled trade jobs has become a logical option amid growing automation. He added that the United States historically prospered thanks to a large industrial middle class, suggesting that this model could return in a new form supported by modern technology and higher productivity.
These remarks come at a time when the government is investing billions of dollars in artificial intelligence projects and related infrastructure, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to position the United States as the world’s leading AI power. However, this investment momentum has yet to translate into broad economic gains, amid rising concerns about a potential technology bubble and the negative consequences for the labor market.
Administration officials argue that the tariff policies championed by Trump are a key tool for reshoring manufacturing in the United States, potentially opening the door to a major revival in industrial jobs. Navarro emphasized that the success of this strategy depends largely on workforce availability, calling on Americans to prepare for what he described as an upcoming “manufacturing boom.”
AI Disruption and the Shift Toward Skilled Trades
Recent studies indicate that artificial intelligence has already begun displacing traditional jobs, as major companies have announced large layoffs in administrative departments while expanding their reliance on smart technologies. Academic and parliamentary reports have also warned that millions of jobs could disappear over the next decade, particularly in sectors dependent on routine tasks.
In contrast, the administration views vocational education and technical institutes as a practical alternative to traditional university education, emphasizing skilled trades such as electrical work, plumbing, and manufacturing as professions more resilient to rapid automation.
Debate over the future of the U.S. labor market is expected to continue, especially amid ongoing legal and political discussions surrounding tariff policies, which the Trump administration considers a cornerstone of reshaping the economy and supporting industrial jobs in the United States.