Senator Mario Mattera warns that artificial intelligence could eliminate traditional career opportunities while skilled trades offer young people a path to well-paying jobs without the burden of college debt.
By Robert Chartuk
Returning from a graduation ceremony honoring 41 newly trained union plumbers, Sen. Mario Mattera warned that artificial intelligence could dramatically reshape employment opportunities for young people, making careers in the skilled trades increasingly attractive.
Mattera attended the graduation of Plumbers Local Union No. 1, where apprentices completed a five-year training program and entered a workforce he believes will remain essential despite technological advances.
“I’m very, very concerned with our young people,” Mattera said, pointing to AI’s potential impact on careers in finance, graphic design, law and other professions.
“Good luck with that,” he said of students considering certain traditional career paths. “They better make sure they understand that AI is going to be taking a lot of these jobs away.”
By contrast, electricians, plumbers, steamfitters and HVAC technicians perform hands-on work that cannot easily be replaced by artificial intelligence.
“The trades are looking better for a lot of people,” Mattera said. “You can make a really good over six figure salary with benefits.”
A graduate of the BOCES vocational education program himself, Mattera is encouraging parents to explore technical training opportunities beginning in ninth grade.
He said BOCES enrollment has increased 15%, with demand for plumbing, electrical and HVAC courses creating a need for additional classroom space.
Union apprenticeship coordinators work directly with BOCES representatives to recruit students into training programs immediately after high school, he explained.
“We recruit them right out of high school to get into the apprenticeship program,” Mattera stated.
Mattera also wants schools to hold career days to help students understand how artificial intelligence could change employment opportunities. He said he raised the issue with Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith, who told him the university was focused on preparing students for an AI future.
“I’m hoping to see that because I haven’t heard much about it,” Mattera said. He offered to personally assist young people interested in pursuing union apprenticeships.
“Construction is the backbone of the economy,” he said, emphasizing that students should consider their employment prospects before taking on substantial college debt.