US Top News and Analysis | College career path ‘over’ as skilled trade get 30% pay bump, recruitment giant says AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. Randstad’s CEO told CNBC that the era of pursuing a college degree for a lucrative career is ending, as skilled‑trade jobs are now seeing rapid wage growth and strong demand. In the United States, wages for skilled trades have risen about 30% since 2022, mirroring similar increases in Europe, while data‑center construction—driven by the AI boom—is creating thousands of new positions for mechanics, robotic technicians, HVAC engineers and industrial‑automation specialists. At the same time, entry‑level workers with AI expertise command up to a 25% salary premium and advance 3.5 times faster than peers, highlighting the growing value of technical and soft‑skill combinations in today’s labor market. Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/20/ai-skills-randstad-college-trades-jobs-pay-bump.html #Randstad #CNBC #Alphabet #Microsoft #Meta