19
THE TAKEAWAY
What All the Skilled Trades
Have in Common
Now that we’ve taken a moment to define
the six different categories of the skilled
trades—and established a panoramic
view of the wide variety of jobs that exist
therein—let’s take a look at the elements
that tie all of these seemingly disconnected
career paths together. What do all the
skilled trades have in common, and why
do we lump them together in this broad
category rather than consider them as
separate industries or workforce niches?
THE THREE KEY COMMONALITIES THAT
ALL SKILLED TRADES TEND TO SHARE
ONE
They are jobs that revolve around one specialized skill,
piece of knowledge, or educational background that not
everyone has. These skills are valuable, as they are crucial