By: Ken Rusk • Published May 11, 2020
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 …
Posted in Working in the Trades
By: Ken Rusk • Published April 21, 2020
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 …
Posted in Working in the Trades
By: Ken Rusk • Published April 13, 2020
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 …
Posted in Finding Your PathWorking in the Trades
By: Ken Rusk • Published March 30, 2020
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 …
Posted in Working in the Trades
By: Ken Rusk • Published March 30, 2020
These times, they are a’changin’. The trend of the last 20-30 years has shifted. Who would have thought that it would be the college-educated populace that would struggle to find work in this day and age? But it’s true – for every job in education …
Posted in Working in the Trades
By: Ken Rusk • Published February 10, 2020
You may know this story: college enrollment has risen since 2000, reaching 16.9 million students in 2016. To parents, guidance counselors, and college grads it’s the only pathway to modern career success or social respectability.
But did you know that trade school participation has increased over …
Posted in Finding Your Path
By: Ken Rusk • Published February 10, 2020
A booming economy, changing norms, and new openings vacated by retiring men are changing the face of blue-collar work. Today, women are filling roles that were historically male-dominated. Though the percentage of women in the overall workforce hasn’t changed much, the number of women working …
Posted in Working in the Trades
By: Ken Rusk • Published January 28, 2020
So proud to announce that entries to the Blue Collar Cash contest were so good that I decided one winner wasn’t enough.
Instead, I chose three! I wanted this money to really transform lives and when I saw the number of excellent submissions I thought …
Posted in Uncategorized
By: Ken Rusk • Published December 13, 2019
By now, you’ve heard about the vast number of job openings in the trades. With Baby Boomers retiring and a never-ending need for skilled workers, the trades have never been more inviting for those looking to grow their career or run their own business.
Some …
Posted in Working in the Trades
By: Ken Rusk • Published October 2, 2019
Leadership in the Blue-Collar World: The Importance of Being a Mentor
One person’s success is rarely the result of just their work alone. It’s the culmination of experiences and learning from everyone in their lifetime. Parents, teachers and peers are often credited with helping guide others …
Posted in Working in the Trades
