By Foulis Peacock
How artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented demand for blue collar knowledge workers – plumbers, HVAC technicians, and the franchises that serve them
While headlines focus on AI replacing white-collar jobs, a counterintuitive reality is emerging: the technology driving automation is simultaneously creating the largest skilled trades boom in modern history. And it’s not happening in boardrooms or tech campuses—it’s happening in data center construction sites, infrastructure buildouts, and the residential and commercial service calls that support this explosive growth.
The Infrastructure Reality Behind the AI Revolution
Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, stated it plainly at the World Economic Forum in Davos: “It’s wonderful that the jobs are related to tradecraft, and we’re going to have plumbers and electricians and construction and steelworkers.”
He wasn’t offering platitudes. He was describing an infrastructure crisis that threatens to constrain America’s AI ambitions.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink reinforced the urgency: “I’ve even told members of the Trump team that we’re going to run out of electricians that we need to build out AI data centers. We just don’t have enough.”
Tech giants are racing to build AI infrastructure at unprecedented scale. Meta, Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft are projected to invest $320 billion combined in AI infrastructure in 2025 alone. The Stargate Project—announced in January 2025—plans to invest $500 billion over four years to build AI data centers across the United States, with an initial $100 billion deployed immediately.
Every billion dollars of this construction requires thousands of construction workers. The data center sector alone needs massive numbers of people in skilled trades—immediately.
Why AI Can’t Automate What It Needs Most
The irony is profound. AI can now write code, analyze data, and perform complex white-collar tasks. Yet it cannot install the electrical systems, plumbing infrastructure, or HVAC equipment that power its own existence.
A Microsoft study scoring jobs by AI exposure found that field-based trades like plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work rank among the safest careers. The reason is straightforward: these jobs demand fine motor skills in unpredictable environments, constant on-the-fly decision-making, and an understanding of physical systems that software cannot replicate.
Mike Rowe, creator of Dirty Jobs and CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, explained it bluntly at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University: “We’ve been telling kids for 15 years to learn to code. Well, AI is coming for the coders. It’s not coming for the welders. It’s not coming for the plumbers. It’s not coming for the steamfitters, or the pipefitters, or the HVAC. It’s not coming for the electricians.”
While AI threatens entry-level white-collar positions—Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicts AI could eliminate roughly 50 percent of all entry-level white-collar jobs within five years—it paradoxically strengthens demand for skilled trades.
Ford CEO Jim Farley warned at the Aspen Ideas Festival: “Hiring an entry worker at a tech company has fallen 50% since 2019. Is that really where we want all of our kids to go? Artificial intelligence is gonna replace literally half of all white-collar workers in the U.S.”
The Market Mechanics Driving Demand
AI infrastructure is only part of the equation. Three converging forces are creating sustained, long-term demand for plumbing and HVAC services:
Infrastructure Aging and Replacement: Much of America’s residential and commercial plumbing and HVAC infrastructure is decades old. The average lifespan of an HVAC system is 15-20 years; plumbing systems in older buildings require constant maintenance and eventual replacement. This creates baseline demand independent of new construction.
Energy Efficiency Mandates: Government initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act and state-level programs are driving upgrades to more efficient systems. The push toward electrification and heat pump adoption specifically increases demand for HVAC expertise.
New Construction Beyond Data Centers: While data centers capture headlines, residential and commercial construction continues. Low housing stock and potential interest rate cuts may boost single-family construction. Commercial retrofitting of older buildings for modern sustainability standards adds further demand.
The plumbing services market reached $169.8 billion in 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2% over the past five years. The HVAC services market hit $156.2 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 2.5%. Both markets are projected to continue growing through the next decade.
The White-Collar Displacement Reality
The shift isn’t theoretical. Data from ADP’s payroll records shows entry-level hiring in highly AI-exposed professions like software engineering and customer service has plummeted. A 2025 SignalFire report found that new graduates make up only 7 percent of hires at big tech companies, with new hire numbers down more than 50 percent below pre-pandemic levels.
Zety’s survey of younger workers found that more than half of Gen Z are now seriously considering trades careers—a dramatic reversal from the past decade’s push toward four-year degrees.
The math is compelling. Electricians average $62,350 annually; plumbers make $62,970; HVAC mechanics earn $59,810. Many roles pay over $100,000 without requiring a college degree or the student debt that comes with it. An Angi report found that trades companies are offering hiring bonuses, performance bonuses, and above-average wages to attract talent.
The Franchise Opportunity at the Intersection
This convergence—surging demand for essential services, labor shortages, and demographic shifts away from white-collar careers—creates exceptional conditions for service franchise growth. Two franchises stand positioned to capitalize on this moment: PlumbingPRO and TemperaturePRO.
Both are part of the SystemForward franchise family, offering “owner-executive” models that don’t require industry experience. The franchises provide comprehensive training, operational systems, and support infrastructure that allow entrepreneurs to enter essential service markets without technical backgrounds.
PlumbingPRO operates in the $169.8 billion plumbing services market, addressing everything from residential repairs to commercial installations. TemperaturePRO serves the $156.2 billion HVAC market, with particular opportunity in energy efficiency upgrades and smart HVAC integration.
What the Investment Means
The total investment range for either franchise is $350,700 to $411,600, covering the initial franchise fee, equipment procurement, fully loaded service vehicle, tools, marketing expenditures, and working capital.
This positions franchisees to enter recession-resistant markets where demand is accelerating, not declining. These aren’t speculative ventures dependent on consumer discretion—they’re essential services that households and businesses require regardless of economic conditions.
The “essential service” designation matters. During COVID-19, plumbing and HVAC services were listed as essential by government authorities. Systems failures don’t wait for economic recoveries. When a pipe bursts or an HVAC system fails, the service call happens immediately.
The Owner-Executive Model
Unlike traditional trades businesses that require hands-on technical work, both PlumbingPRO and TemperaturePRO operate on an owner-executive model. Franchisees hire skilled technicians and focus on business management, customer relationships, and growth.
This model addresses a critical market inefficiency: many excellent plumbers and HVAC technicians lack business management skills, marketing capabilities, or capital to build independent businesses. Conversely, many entrepreneurs with business acumen lack technical training. The franchise model bridges this gap.
Support includes:
- Full training and startup guidance
- Comprehensive employee hiring and management training
- Marketing and sales systems
- Industry-leading technology and business management platforms
- Extensive branding, PR, and marketing support
- Exclusive service areas with 500,000 population minimums
- Access to commercial market opportunities
- National brand recognition
Why This Moment Matters
The skilled trades shortage isn’t temporary. Demographic trends show an aging workforce without sufficient replacement. The median age of electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians skews older, with retirements accelerating.
Simultaneously, AI infrastructure buildout is just beginning. Current data center construction represents early-stage development of what will be decades of sustained investment. Each facility requires ongoing maintenance, system upgrades, and eventual replacement—creating permanent demand for skilled trades.
Google recently announced a $10 million initiative to train tens of thousands of U.S. electricians, partnering with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association. The goal: train 100,000 new electricians and 30,000 apprentices.
Microsoft noted that its $80 billion investment in AI-enabled data centers “hinges on an ecosystem of construction firms, material suppliers, and skilled trades such as electricians and pipefitters.”
This corporate recognition of trades importance represents a fundamental shift. For decades, societal messaging pushed young people toward college degrees and white-collar careers. AI’s displacement of those careers is forcing a recalculation.
The Geographic Distribution
Data center construction isn’t concentrated in traditional tech hubs. Projects are spreading across the country, driven by power availability, land costs, and proximity to renewable energy sources. This geographic distribution means the trades boom isn’t limited to coastal cities—it’s creating opportunity in Ohio, Texas, New Mexico, and beyond.
For franchise owners, this means opportunity exists in markets where cost of living is lower, competition may be less intense, and population growth is creating sustained residential and commercial demand independent of data center buildout.
Beyond Data Centers: The Residential and Commercial Reality
While data center construction drives headlines, the larger opportunity lies in residential and commercial services. Homeowners need water heaters replaced, drain clogs cleared, HVAC systems serviced. Commercial buildings require regular maintenance, emergency repairs, and system upgrades.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, plumber employment is projected to grow 4% through 2034, adding more than 22,000 new jobs. HVAC employment growth is even stronger, with solar photovoltaic installers—a related trade—expected to increase by 42%, adding 12,000 new jobs between 2024 and 2034.
These aren’t data center jobs. They’re distributed across millions of homes and businesses nationwide, creating geographically dispersed demand that franchise networks can capture systematically.
The Technology Integration Advantage
Both PlumbingPRO and TemperaturePRO leverage technology for operational efficiency—scheduling software, digital marketing, customer relationship management, route optimization. This allows franchisees to maximize technician productivity and customer service quality.
Ironically, AI tools can enhance these businesses without replacing the core service. Predictive maintenance systems can identify when HVAC systems need service before they fail. Smart home integration creates new service opportunities. Automated scheduling optimizes routes and reduces downtime.
The trades businesses that combine human expertise with technological systems will capture disproportionate market share. Franchise systems that provide this integration as standard infrastructure give franchisees immediate competitive advantages over independent operators still using manual scheduling and paper invoicing.
Who This Opportunity Fits
The ideal franchisee isn’t necessarily someone with plumbing or HVAC experience. It’s someone with:
- Business management capability and customer service focus
- Ability to hire, train, and manage teams
- Comfort with technology systems and operational processes
- Understanding that essential services businesses thrive on reliability and reputation
- Recognition that recurring revenue from commercial contracts and maintenance agreements creates business stability
For immigrant entrepreneurs particularly, these franchises offer entry into established, recession-resistant industries without requiring technical certifications or extensive capital. The business model rewards operational discipline, customer relationship management, and systematic growth—skills transferable from other industries.
The Market Window
Territories are being claimed now. As the skilled trades boom accelerates and more entrepreneurs recognize the opportunity, available markets will close. The SystemForward franchise family is actively expanding, which means prime territories with strong demographics and limited competition are still accessible.
The convergence of factors—AI infrastructure demand, aging residential and commercial systems, energy efficiency mandates, demographic shifts, white-collar displacement—won’t repeat. This is a structural market shift, not a temporary trend.
What Success Looks Like
Successful PlumbingPRO and TemperaturePRO franchisees build businesses around:
Recurring commercial contracts: Office buildings, retail locations, and property management companies need regular maintenance. These contracts provide predictable revenue streams.
Residential service agreements: Homeowners who sign annual maintenance plans create recurring revenue and reduce customer acquisition costs.
Emergency response capability: Being available for urgent repairs builds reputation and commands premium pricing.
Systematic hiring and training: As demand exceeds capacity, the ability to recruit and develop skilled technicians becomes the growth constraint. Franchises with strong training systems scale faster.
Local market integration: Essential service businesses succeed through community reputation, word-of-mouth referrals, and consistent quality. This requires genuine local engagement rather than transactional customer relationships.
The Economic Reality
Both franchises operate in markets measured in hundreds of billions of dollars. The question isn’t whether demand exists—it’s whether supply can meet it.
Current labor shortages mean qualified service providers can charge premium rates and maintain full schedules. This pricing power translates to strong unit economics for well-managed operations.
The barriers to entry for independent operators remain high: vehicle costs, tool and equipment investment, insurance, licensing, marketing, and customer acquisition all require capital and expertise. Franchises that provide turnkey systems, established brand recognition, and operational support reduce these barriers while increasing success probability.
Ready to Capitalize on the Skilled Trades Boom?
The AI revolution is creating the largest infrastructure buildout in modern history. That buildout needs plumbers, HVAC technicians, electricians, and the service companies that employ them.
PlumbingPRO and TemperaturePRO offer proven franchise models in essential service markets experiencing unprecedented demand growth. The owner-executive model allows entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds to build businesses in recession-resistant industries.
To learn more about franchise opportunities and available territories:
Visit the PlumbingPRO franchise website at plumbingpro.pro or call 877-233-6211 x 233
Visit the TemperaturePRO franchise website at temperaturepro.com or call 877-233-6211 x 233
WadSaver members earn a $10,000 cash rebate when they purchase either a PlumbingPRO or TemperaturePRO franchise. If you’re not yet a member, visit WadSaver.com to join and access exclusive franchise rebates and business resources.
The white-collar displacement AI creates won’t reverse. The skilled trades demand it generates will only accelerate. The question is whether you position yourself to benefit from this historic shift—or watch others claim the territories and markets that define the next decade of essential service business growth.
For entrepreneurs seeking recession-resistant franchise opportunities in markets experiencing structural growth driven by technological transformation, PlumbingPRO and TemperaturePRO represent essential service businesses positioned at the intersection of AI infrastructure demand and aging residential and commercial systems. The skilled trades boom is underway. The territories available today won’t remain available tomorrow.
WadSaver members earn a $10,000 cash rebate when they buy a PlumbingPRO or TemperaturePRO franchise. Learn more at WadSaver.com.
