Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has said that the next generation of American millionaires will not come from Silicon Valley or Wall Street but from skilled trades like plumbing, electrical work, and construction.
Speaking with reporters, Huang explained that the demand for hands-on professionals is rising faster than ever as the United States faces a serious worker shortage during a time of housing and infrastructure expansion.
“The future belongs to builders,” Huang said confidently. “If you are an electrician, plumber, or carpenter, we’re going to need hundreds of thousands of you to build all of these factories.” He added that these jobs now offer financial independence and security without the crushing burden of student debt.
Across the country, trade schools are graduating fewer students every year, while demand for skilled workers continues to climb. Wages for electricians, welders, HVAC technicians, and plumbers have all increased, with many now earning six-figure incomes or even running successful independent businesses. Huang’s message is simple but powerful — the future of wealth may not come from coding or banking, but from real-world skills that machines cannot replace.
Huang’s comments show a shift in America’s wealth landscape. For decades, the highest-paying and most prestigious jobs were in technology or finance. Now, as artificial intelligence begins to automate many white-collar roles, hands-on trades are regaining the respect and profitability they once had. “AI can write code,” Huang said, “but it can’t fix a broken pipe at least not yet.”
He believes that this change represents a return to practical education and real-world work. “For the young, 20-year-old Jensen that’s graduated now,” he said, “he probably would have chosen more of the physical sciences than the software sciences.” His words come at a time when many young Americans are questioning the value of expensive college degrees that often leave them in debt and struggling to find stable employment.
Huang’s views also match growing concerns among other top CEOs. Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, recently warned that the U.S. is running out of electricians and skilled workers needed to build the new wave of AI data centers.
He said he had even told members of the Trump team that America will not have enough electricians to complete these massive projects. Ford CEO Jim Farley echoed this concern, saying that while the U.S. government talks about bringing manufacturing jobs back home, there simply are not enough people trained to do the work.
Huang is backing his words with action. Nvidia has committed over $100 billion to support data center development using its AI processors. Each large-scale data center can employ up to 1,500 construction workers during its build-out, many earning more than $100,000 a year without any college degree.
Once the facilities are complete, they continue to generate jobs in maintenance, support, and surrounding services. According to industry estimates, every full-time data center job creates about three and a half additional jobs in the local economy.
This is not limited to the United States. Around the world, governments are recognizing the importance of skilled labor. In South Africa, the Department of Higher Education and Training has listed plumbing as a “scarce skill,” making it a top priority for young workers. The country expects a strong rise in demand for electricians, welders, and technicians by 2026 as it expands green energy and infrastructure projects.
Huang believes that this global shift shows a new opportunity, one where technology supports, not replaces, human ability. “Technology will enhance, not erase, human capability,” he said. He argues that while AI and robotics are powerful tools, the world will always need people who can design, build, repair, and create in the physical world.
For Generation Z, who often hear that artificial intelligence will take away their jobs, Huang’s advice is reassuring. “There are thousands of jobs for young people,” he said. “You just have to be willing to go to trade school.” He pointed to the growing number of data centers and factories being built across America, all of which require skilled electricians, plumbers, and technicians.
The U.S. is short by more than half a million construction workers and 600,000 factory workers. Yet trade programs remain under-enrolled, leaving a gap that young people could easily fill. For those willing to work with their hands, the opportunity is both immediate and long-lasting.
Many success stories prove the point. Jacob Palmer, a 23-year-old electrician from North Carolina, decided not to attend college. Instead, he joined an apprenticeship program and started his own business at just 21. Last year, he earned nearly $90,000 and this year, he’s already made six figures. “I don’t owe anybody anything,” he said proudly.
