CNY Tradesworker

Happy Juneteenth! Today we celebrate FREEDOM!

Check out this awesome article about how women of color are changing the landscape of the trades!

https://ptt.edu/the-sisterhood-of-the-site-why-black-women-in-trades-are-the-new-power-players/

The Sisterhood of the Site: Why Black Women in Trades Are the New Power Players Learn how black women in trades are breaking down barriers, making a lot of money, and leading the way in skilled trades like welding and HVAC systems.

Some people may view the trades as 'Boring' jobs, but these careers can pay as much as careers held by those who obtained 4-year college degrees!

https://www.aol.com/articles/trade-jobs-quietly-becoming-gold-135612881.html

These trade jobs are quietly becoming gold mines - AOL These trade jobs are quietly becoming gold mines For years, the message was basically: go to college, get a degree, sit in fluorescent lighting forever. But today, skilled trades are proving there’s more than one […]

Are you new to the trades, but unsure what direction you want to go?

Check out this great article from Indeed! They have listed 72 trades to look into to build a successful career!

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/learn-trades

72 Trades To Learn for a Successful Trade Career Trade careers can be both lucrative and rewarding, often without requiring a college degree. Explore some of the most popular trades you may want to consider, with guidance from Indeed Career Scout.

"From the Dayton, Ohio, suburbs to boardrooms in Dallas, the employees fueling AT&T’s
next wave of growth aren’t fresh-faced college graduates with expensive four-year degrees. They’re skilled, blue-collar workers ready to get their hands dirty — and AT&T can’t find enough of them.

“We need people who know how to actually work with electricity. We need people who understand photonics. We need people who can go into folks’ homes and connect this infrastructure to make it work right,” AT&T CEO John Stankey told CNBC during a recent interview from the company’s Dallas headquarters."

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/19/ai-hiring-slowdown-skilled-trade-workers.html

The AI economy is rewriting the American Dream — and blue-collar workers are poised to win AI-driven hiring slowdowns are hitting some entry-level jobs for college graduates as companies like Ford and AT&T ramp up recruiting for skilled trade workers.

Check out this awesome article about women in rail!

https://kcemployees.com/2026/05/29/women-in-rail-inspiring-future-trades-workers/

Women in Rail inspiring future trades workers Crossposted from the Metro Layover Employee Newsletter Metro’s Women in Rail Employee Resource Group (ERG) helped showcase careers in skilled trades at the 45th annual Washington Women in Trades Fa…

Burns & McDonnell are adding tradesworkers to their team to help in the preconstruction development process. They've found that the tradesworker expertise has helped streamline and create shorter construction timelines for new builds. That hands-on knowledge has also been critical in vetting AI technology used in the process.

What are your thoughts on their new area of work that construction tradesmen may be able to shift into? Are you a construction worker who would work with a preconstruction firm to help estimate jobs?

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/burns-mcdonnell-tradesworkers-preconstruction-ai/820742/

Burns & McDonnell taps tradesworkers for preconstruction, AI vetting Brett Poulos, national director of preconstruction and estimating at the firm said jobsite pros know when to push back on AI-generated suggestions.

Have you heard of Autonomous Trucks?

Autonomous, or Driverless, trucks are set to enter the market in a full-scale launch during the 2026 year. While these driverless vehicles may seem like an incredible opportunity, there are many drawbacks. These vehicles could change the way that the trucking and transportation industry functions. Without the need for a driver, this could directly impact thousands of skilled drivers who rely on their routes to make a living. https://www.ttnews.com/articles/act-expo-autonomous-tech?cx_testId=1&cx_testVariant=cx_1&cx_artPos=1&cx_experienceId=EXVJ02JJYSWC&cx_experienceActionId=showRecommendationsZIQ3B2B79SRL58

What is your thought on 'Autonomous Trucks' becoming the standard in the transportation industry?

Autonomous Trucks Are Here, but When Will They Scale? - TT Autonomous trucking is shifting from early pilots toward full-scale commercial launches. How quickly might driverless trucks become more widely available?

The National Association of Manufacturers reported that "Manufacturing activity in New York state expanded in May, with the headline business conditions index rising 8.6 points to 19.6, the highest reading since April 2022. The new orders index increased 3.4 points to 22.7, while the shipments index declined 1.3 points to 18.9, both remaining at high rates of growth for the second consecutive month. Unfilled orders decreased 4.2 points to 4.9, while inventories moved up 4.6 points to 9.7, indicating business inventories are growing at a faster pace. Delivery times lengthened to a four-year high, climbing 8.3 points to 20.4, and supply availability worsened slightly, edging down 0.6 points to -10.7." https://nam.org/new-york-manufacturing-reaches-its-strongest-level-since-2022-as-lead-times-and-costs-rise-36456/?stream=news-insights&utm_source=link&utm_medium=social

While this growing demand is excellent for small businesses, it is showing the weak points in delivery and shipping. What is your read on the current manufacturing trends across the board?

New York Manufacturing Expands at Its Fastest Pace Since 2022 as Lead Times and Costs Rise Manufacturing activity in New York state expanded in May, with the headline business conditions index rising 8.6 points to 19.6, the highest reading since April 2022. The new orders index increased 3.4 points to 22.7, while the shipments index declined 1.3 points to 18.9, both remaining at high rate...

According to data found by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the plastics industry (an already enormous industry) increased 2% so far in 2026. "Overall, the US plastics industry remains resilient amid a supportive macroeconomic and technological backdrop, even as it contends with geopolitical energy volatility and episodic cost pressures," Pineda stated. "The industry's ability to navigate these internal and external shocks will help shape performance through the remainder of 2026." https://www.plasticstoday.com/industry-trends/us-plastics-industry-shows-resilience-amid-energy-volatility

Do you work in the plastics industry? Tell us about your outlook on 2026 production!

Plastics Manufacturing Navigates Costs, Geopolitical Uncertainty Surging business investment and AI-driven demand create opportunities despite mixed labor market signals and energy pressures.

According to a recent report by the Semiconductor Industry Association, global semiconductor sales are up 25% in the first quarter of 2026 from the final quarter of 2025. This is wonderful news for those in the manufacturing trade, and all other skilled trades that use or work within the semiconductor industry. In the America's alone, sales are up more than 83% so far for 2026!

Check out more in the article by the SIA! https://www.semiconductors.org/global-semiconductor-sales-increase-25-from-q4-2025-to-q1-2026/

Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 25% from Q4 2025 to Q1 2026 - Semiconductor Industry Association Worldwide chip sales in March increase 79.2% year-to-year, 11.5% month-to-month WASHINGTON—May 4, 2026—The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced global semiconductor sales were $298.5 billion during the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 25% compared to Q4 of 2025. Global s...