Why the Trades? 12 Reasons Skilled Trade Careers Are Outperforming College Degrees in 2026

The narrative that "college is the only path to success" is outdated. Period. While society has pushed the four-year degree as the golden ticket for decades, the skilled trades are quietly building wealth, job security, and actual work-life balance (yes, really).

The inspiration behind this post comes from watching countless tradespeople build thriving businesses while their college-educated peers drown in student debt and cubicle monotony. The electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, and contractors we work with at wrktxt aren't just making a living,they're thriving.