The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe 481: Jason Altmire—Trade Up
22 snips
Apr 28, 2026 
Jason Altmire, former three-term U.S. congressman and leader of Career Education Colleges & Universities, champions skilled trades and career education. He discusses why trades lost prestige. He explores the mismatch between degree glut and unfilled skilled jobs. He outlines training bottlenecks, tech's role, and policy ideas to scale workforce pathways.
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College Boom Paired With Trade Shortages
- The country faces a paradox of record college graduates without matching jobs while skilled-trade vacancies remain high.
- Jason Altmire cites data centers, infrastructure and aging commercial buildings as drivers creating massive demand for electricians, plumbers and welders.
Annual Trade Worker Shortfall Quantified
- There is a recurring annual shortfall: the U.S. produces ~1.25 million skilled-trade workers but needs 2.9 million, leaving a 1.7 million vacancy gap each year.
- Altmire warns this gap could reach 2.1 million by 2030 and cost the economy ~$1 trillion in output.
Trade Graduations Celebrate Working Families
- Altmire contrasts traditional college graduations with trade-school ceremonies where families cheer 'that's my mom' or 'that's my dad,' highlighting adult students balancing work and kids.
- He emphasizes trade graduations are raucous, family-centered milestones for first-generation students.
