Look, we’ve all heard the talk: “That trade’s dying out” or “Nobody’s doing that anymore.” And yeah, some of it’s true—but let’s start with the good news. Trades aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Robots and automation might be great for stamping out parts or filling boxes, but they’re not gonna lay bricks, weld a pipe, or fix your furnace. A lot of us in the trades are thriving, with more work than we know what to do with.
But not every trade’s so lucky. Some of the old-school skills that built the world we live in are barely hanging on. Here’s a breakdown of the trades that are struggling, why they’re in trouble, and why it matters.
🪨 Stone Masons: The Original Builders
Ever drive past a historic building and wonder who made it? Probably a stone mason. Those guys built castles, cathedrals, and walls that have stood for centuries. But here’s the thing—nobody’s stepping into their boots anymore. The work is still out there, especially for fancy stuff like stone fireplaces or restoration jobs, but the number of people who can actually do it is shrinking fast.
“We needed a 50-foot retaining wall built and some brick repointing done. The only mason I could find was 78 years old, and he absolutely crushed it with tools older than me.” —Construction PM
🎹 Piano Tuning: Fewer Hands on the Keys
Piano tuning might not sound like a “trade” trade, but it’s a craft just like any other. Schools and churches still need their pianos tuned, and there’s no machine that can do it. The problem? There aren’t many tuners left. A lot of folks would rather throw money at a new digital piano than fix an old one, and the ones who still need the work done are facing long waits and high costs.
“The last guy who tuned my piano was incredible, but he’s booked solid because no one else in town does it anymore.” —Electrician
⚙️ Manual Machinists: A Dying Art in a CNC World
If you’ve ever worked in a shop, you know the story: CNC machines are everywhere, and manual machinists are getting harder to find. Sure, CNCs are faster and cheaper, but they don’t have the finesse of someone who knows how to work a lathe by hand. For repairs or one-off parts, a good manual machinist can save the day, but there aren’t enough young people learning the trade to keep it alive.
“A 75-year-old machinist with a manual lathe can save a part a CNC operator would scrap. The difference is night and day.” —Millwright
👞 Cobblers: Saving Your Soles
Ever had a good pair of boots? Not the cheap ones, but the kind that feel like part of you after a few years. A good cobbler can keep those boots alive forever. Problem is, most cobblers are either retired or swamped with work because no one else is stepping up to take their place.
“I spend $300 on boots, and my cobbler keeps them going for $65 a repair. The guy’s always swamped because he’s the only one left in town.” —Sheet Metal Worker
🏚️ Plaster and Adobe Work: Built to Last, But Fading Fast
When it comes to historic buildings, you can’t just slap on some drywall and call it a day. Plaster and adobe are still needed for restoration work, but finding people who know how to do it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Most folks switched to drywall years ago, and the few plasterers left are being flown in for special jobs.
“They had to fly in plasterers from back East to work on historic registry houses out here. Nobody else has the skills.” —Drywaller
🔧 Tool and Die Makers: Hanging On By a Thread
Tool and die work used to be a staple in manufacturing. These guys made the tools that made the parts. But wages haven’t kept up, and nobody’s training new workers. Now, the old-timers are retiring, and shops are scrambling to find anyone who can take their place.
“I wanted to get into tool and die, but no shop would take me because I didn’t have experience. Now, those same shops are shutting down because they can’t find anyone.” —Machinist
🔒 Locksmiths: Losing to Tech
Remember when you could call a locksmith to fix your lock or make a new key? These days, it’s all digital locks and keyless entry systems, and traditional locksmiths are getting left behind. There’s still some work to be had, but it’s not like the old days.
🚨 Why These Trades Are Disappearing
Here’s the tough part: a lot of these trades are struggling because nobody’s investing in them. Shops don’t want to train apprentices, and schools push kids toward desk jobs instead of trades. Older workers retire, and their skills retire with them.
“The trades talk about needing workers, but when you try to get in, no one’s willing to train you. It’s no wonder these jobs are disappearing.” —Welder
✨ A Glimmer of Hope
Not every trade is dying. Plenty of them—like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical—are thriving, with more work than people to do it. But the ones that are fading deserve some respect. These skills built the world we live in, and losing them means losing a piece of our history.
If you’re in the trades, take pride in what you do. Machines might be taking over some jobs, but they’ll never replace the skill and grit of a true tradesperson.
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