As the world continues to go high tech, there’s a growing discussion about people being replaced by robots. And if it sounds familiar, it should. The industrial revolution gave us advances that also displaced workers. As a matter of fact, inventions, innovations, and evolutions across all kinds of industries have often carried the consequence of putting people out of work. The simple idea of advancing our society alway prevails.

Where did all of the elevator operators go? How often does the milkman come to your house? When was the last time you saw people installing pay phones on public streets? Society has evolved. And so did the workforce. But then there are all the “dirty jobs.” These are the kinds of blue-collar jobs that we cannot live without.

Mike Rowe became a TV sensation by putting the spotlight on these very real jobs and the people who do them. And no matter how advanced our society becomes, there is still a much needed workforce across the service trades. That’s the beauty of the industries where Dwyer Group operates. Because, as sophisticated as we get, we’re still going to need a plumber to fix certain problems….or an air conditioner technician…or an electrician. You get the idea.

Sure, there are technological advances that help people in the service trades do their jobs better. But the workforce demand and job opportunities only continue to grow. These are skilled workers who work with their hands. They don’t sit behind a desk. They are out in the field getting jobs done, helping customers, and making a good living.

It’s time to admire the people who do the dirtiest jobs with the best skills.

Here’s where the hurdle exists. Because the same society that needs these people also needs to give them the credit they deserve for the services they provide. While we value the men and women who get a college education, why can’t we also value the men and women who get an education in the skilled trades? It goes back to the Code of Values I promote so much and the idea to Live R.I.C.H. The “R” is all about Respect.

As Dwyer Group CEO Mike Bidwell put it: "We can start by giving these middle-skills jobs some respect. Blue-collar jobs exist, they are growing in number and they offer a good wage across many industries.”

For a deeper look at how the service trades are impacting job creation, check out his guest column in the Waco Tribune-Herald HERE.