Have you walked into a McDonald’s recently and seen the empty counter? With minimum wage continuously rising in California, workers are being replaced by automated systems as AI begins to take over many career fields.
“And I think we have to figure out, you know, how can we build a society that, you know, gives people what they need and that doesn’t cause, you know, rampant unemployment, not just among young people, but among, you know, middle-aged people, older people as well,” said Congressman George Whitesides.
AI is mostly affecting the white-collar workforce, which can have a direct impact on college majors that rely on administrative tasks for work.
Companies like UPS and Amazon are cutting over 10,000 white-collar jobs, which can leave some COC students out of luck.
“There are going to be many learners of all ages returning to the community college, in particular, to get those certifications, industry-recognized certifications, in order to do the work that they need to do,” said Harriet Happel, Dean of Career Education.
With many entry-level jobs under the threat of AI, there are still many career options here at COC that need a human touch. Welding is one of them, and it offers high career earning potential.
Starting the welding program is as easy as signing up for any other class at COC. Former students have gone to work in the aerospace and industrial industries.
There are so many little details that go into welding that it demands the nuance of the human mind.
“Salary expectations, if you’re a good welder, you have the good certifications, you know, anywhere from $80,000 to $100,000 to start off with. That’s welding. The jobs are in high demand,” said Instructing Laboratory Technician Ian Happel.
