At just 23, Jacob Palmer is already running his own electrical company. He launched the business in 2024 after starting in the field as an apprentice electrician, a career path he embarked on when college turned out not to be for him.

Palmer has no regrets about his decision to forego college and instead establish himself as a tradesman. "I am very happy doing what I am doing now because it has given me the opportunity to work for myself and be independent," he told CBS News.

Experts say the skilled trades — jobs like electricians, plumbers, welders, masons, HVAC technicians and other occupations requiring extensive training and often licensing — are attracting a growing number of young people put off by high tuition costs.

More recently, signs that artificial intelligence is startin

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