White‑to‑Blue Collar Flow

Layoffs in white‑collar sectors, combined with AI exposure and private‑equity expansion of service chains, are creating a durable pipeline of workers retraining into blue‑collar roles that offer rapid pay progression and managerial paths. This is visible in employer anecdotes (Crash Champions, Power Home Remodeling) and in payroll data showing rising blue‑collar shares among young adults. — If sustained, the flow will reshape workforce policy, vocational training programs, regional labor markets, and political coalitions that depend on middle‑skill employment.