AI Is Powering a Blue‑Collar Hiring Boom Few Saw Coming

Demand for electricians, welders, and technicians is surging—putting a hard limit on how fast AI can scale.

BY BRUCE CRUMLEY @BRUCEC_INC

Illustration: Inc.; Photos: Adobe Stock

The spread of artificial intelligence tools automating a wide range of employees’ work tasks has sparked considerable fears that the apps may eventually take over jobs that millions of humans now perform. But a new study warns that surging adoption of the tech by businesses may hit an unexpected wall unless far more skilled trade workers are trained to build and maintain the infrastructure and other support AI needs just to operate.

That scenario was explored in a recent analysis by Dutch recruitment company Randstad, which challenges the notion that AI use will soon unleash millions of net job losses. While it’s probably inevitable that some companies will use apps and bots to cut their headcounts, Randstad........

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