As AI threatens white-collar jobs, Washington trade schools are booming Monica Nickelsburg November 05, 2025 / 11:05 am

Brendan Hancock is about to graduate for the second time. His English degree from a traditional four-year college didn’t turn into the stable career he was looking for, so he decided to start over at the Northwest Washington Electrical Industry Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NWEJATC) in Mount Vernon. This time around, he gets paid while studying, and is guaranteed a job when he graduates.

“Going back to university when I had already been to university and not gotten a career out of it wasn't very appealing," Hancock said. "I don't think I've ever seen a job ad that said English degree required.”

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