Ken Rusk

The 7 Highest Paying Trade Jobs That Are in Demand Now

Are you thinking about your career and college, but you’re just not seeing how these two pieces fit together? You’re not alone! Deciding on a career path can be exciting, but society pressures you to go to college even if it’s not a fit. Fortunately, plenty of trade jobs are in demand right now just waiting for anyone willing to get in and get their hands dirty!

If you’re looking to forge your own path, trade jobs will always be in demand, pay well, and don't require a college degree. Indeed, the number of jobs that pay $80,000 or more going unfilled while kids accumulate debt for degrees is scary. It's also exactly why I wrote Blue Collar Cash. Read More »

Top 5 Blue Collar Jobs (by job opening) – October 2020

In August and September 2020, multiple reports came out indicating a deep need for blue-collar workers - even amid the pandemic. The need for hands-on workers is there, as many blue-collar jobs are recession-proof. Thus, these positions continue to provide excellent stability, compensation, and a life of happiness!

As of October 15th, bluecollarcrossing.com had 456,270 blue-collar jobs listed, with over 30,000 posted within the last week. The five jobs with the most openings available are:
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How To Spend Your Paycheck For The Ideal Budget

People hear the word "budget" and start to panic. Usually, this is because they're either stressed about their budget or, worse, don't have one. But I'm going to let you in on a little secret:

Budgeting doesn't have to be scary. In fact, it can open you up to a more beautiful life of sustainable financial health. Money and time are valuable resources and spending them wisely will make you happier. Budgeting is a great way to lay out your priorities and to help you determine how to spend your money AND time.  Read More »

Achieve Your Goals By Taking the Path to Freedom

Where do you envision yourself in five to ten years? In your mind’s eye, where does your path lead?

As I convey in my book Blue Collar Cash, there’s nothing I’m more obsessed with than paths. After all, in the literal sense, I’ve been digging them around foundations for the majority of my life while working in construction. I even spend my free time on all kinds of paths: trails, back roads, and golf courses. Nothing gives me more hope, more clarity, or more inspiration than continuing on a path that I’m certain will lead me to a wonderful destination. Read More »

How To Succeed As An Entrepreneur

When you hear the word “entrepreneurship,” you may think of white collar professions at large corporations or tech companies. If so, you’re missing more than half the equation. The boundaries of entrepreneurship do not exist, and blue collar entrepreneurship can be quite lucrative.

Blue collar entrepreneurship can certainly take the form of creating new machines that make industrial or home improvement processes easier. It frequently takes the form of a plumber or carpenter creating his own company. In fact, entrepreneurs can gain tremendous rewards by creating a self-owned business around their blue collar skills. The pathway is generally safer than in other types of entrepreneurship, too, because there is always demand for trade skills. For instance, finding business as a plumber is more realistic than finding buyers for a new app! Read More »

Want to Survive in the Blue-Collar Workforce? Upskill!

We are in the age of automation, and blue-collar workers need to consider upskilling to be successful. In a rapidly changing market, blue-collar workers need to get more training to preserve their jobs and earn a higher salary.

We live in an increasingly technological society where robots and artificial intelligence will soon work alongside humans in the blue-collar workplace. While some fear technology displacing blue-collar workers, I do not. Reading an article recently, I agreed with one of the experts, technology won't eliminate blue-collar jobs anytime soon, it will only shift the scope of the type of work done by blue-collar workers. Read More »

The Massive Blue Collar Hiring Gap And What It Means For You

The blue-collar industry sustained an allure that enticed the typical working man of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. And why not? A job of this caliber afforded a person the opportunity to achieve the “American Dream” -- the white picket fence, the 2.5 children, and nice house. A college education was not required to be comfortable in the middle-class. 

In the ensuing years the quality of blue collar work didn’t change, but our attitude towards it did. We began to hear over and over that college was necessary to experience life success. As a result, the perception of blue-collar work declined and even as the work continued to offer solid careers. Now there aren’t enough interested candidates to fill all the excellent high-paying jobs available - but the lack of employees means those who are interested now can make a lot of money and maybe even become a millionaire. Read More »

8 Blue-Collar Careers That Are Recession-Proof

As we enter the downturn driven by Covid-19 (may it be very short!), I’ve marked the notices from governors and mayors outlining the “essential” positions that can continue working because of their necessity for society’s functioning. Many of these positions are blue-collar, which continues a trend from past recessions and slowdowns. Often, blue-collar jobs continue working even as other parts of the economy shut down.

In fact, this durability is a good reason to consider certain blue-collar careers. Read More »

American Attitudes Towards Blue-Collar Work Are A Threat To Our Future

We all know the image of the dystopian future of the American workforce: robots, in droves, take all the jobs that hardworking, real people have always had, the poverty level skyrockets, and the human race as we know it, devolves. Sometimes, the robots even turn on humans and try to kill them all. While frightening and sellable, studies suggest it isn’t realistic.

What is real, though, is the stigmatization of American blue-collar jobs and that is much more scary for the modern-day workforce than the aforementioned thriller movie plot. Read More »