FITTING THOUGHT 1
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Replacing the white collar with the blue collar
By
Megan O’ Connor
How AI is driving the demand for skilled tradespeople.
Jensen Huang, Nvidea co-founder and CEO, and 16th richest person in the world according to Forbes’ list in 2025 1, has warned that the shortage of skilled tradespeople will grow as Artificial Intelligence( AI) does.
Nvidea is a company that creates Graphics Processing Units( GPUs), which are used in a wide range of applications, from gaming to AI. Having worked in the technological realm since the company’ s inception in 1993, Huang has noticed the growing need for large scale data centres – and the shortage of skilled tradespeople that is growing with it.
Huang’ s advice to the younger generation looking into career opportunities: Ditch the university degrees. Get a trade qualification 2.
The global boom in data centre construction to cover the ever-increasing growth of artificial intelligence creates a massive demand for skilled manual labour to build them, which creates high earning potential opportunity for the youth, without the burden of university fees.
“ If you’ re an electrician, you’ re a plumber, a carpenter – we’ re going to need hundreds of thousands of them to build all of these factories. The skilled craft segment of every economy is going to see a boom. You’ re going to have to be doubling and doubling and doubling every single year,” says Huang.
And Huang isn’ t alone in his views – the cry for the large number of data centres required to cover AI in the future and the shortage of critical workers to build them has also been echoed by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Ford CEO Jim Farley 2.
So, let’ s ask AI itself then – how do plumbers tie into your future growth?
How plumbers tie into AI’ s future growth AI’ s growth doesn’ t happen in a vacuum – it relies on the physical world being smarter, connected and maintained, and plumbers are part of that backbone 3.
1. Smart infrastructure needs skilled hands AI-driven systems – from smart homes to data centres – all depend on precise, reliable water, cooling and waste systems. Plumbers will be the ones installing and maintaining the intelligent sensors, flow meters and watersaving technologies that feed data into these systems. Without tradespeople, AI can’ t function in the real world.
2. Real-world data comes from real work AI improves by learning from real-world data. Every time a plumber logs a job, identifies a leak or installs a system, that’ s valuable data that helps AI models learn patterns in maintenance, materials performance and water efficiency. In other words – plumbers train the AI of the future through their daily work.
3. Sustainable innovation depends on plumbing As industries move toward smart cities and green construction, plumbing is at the core of energy-efficient water management. AI will grow by working alongside plumbers to optimise water recycling, greywater systems and leak detection – essential for both climate goals and infrastructure stability.
4. The human link keeps AI grounded AI needs context – and plumbers provide it. Their field experience helps shape more accurate AI tools, ensuring the technology actually solves real problems rather than theoretical ones.
Conclusion Plumbers aren’ t just part of AI’ s future – they’ re part of its foundation. As the world becomes more connected, it’ s the tradespeople who’ ll bridge the gap between digital intelligence and physical reality. PA
Megan
Reference list 1. Forbes 2025 Billionaires List- The Richest People In The World Ranked 2. Nvidia CEO Says Skip Degrees, Choose Trades As AI Boom Needs WorkersiHarare News 3. OpenAI
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February 2026 Volume 31 I Number 12 www. plumbingafrica. co. za