You don’t have to look far to find a conversation about how artificial intelligence is disrupting the world. Much of the discussion is about jobs: which ones will disappear, which will change, and which will emerge out of thin air.

These are good questions. But they overlook the fact that some of the most important jobs in today’s economy are not only staying put but are increasingly crucial to how society prepares for the future.

I’m talking about the jobs that help build and support the resilient broadband networks that we all rely on every day. At AT&T, we’re hiring these jobs – and almost none of them require a four-year college degree. Why? Because we look beyond credentials to the capabilities and commitment people bring.

Time and again, we’ve seen new technologies shake up the skills our workforce needs. As a result, we’ve learned to hire people for their potential and, when needed, help them build the skills to do the work. And we don’t just train employees when they start their job; we help them grow continuously throughout their time here.

Many of these roles are in skilled trades – the technicians who build and maintain our fiber network. We’ve hired 10,000 of them since the beginning of 2023, and we announced earlier this year we expect to hire around 3,000 more in 2026 alone. Another crucial component of our frontline workforce is our Care team, which helps customers with questions about their AT&T service. We’re investing heavily in better tools so our Care experts spend less time navigating internal systems and more time helping customers.

Because we’re committed to offering stable, well-paying jobs – and because we’ve seen that our customers are more satisfied when their calls are handled in the United States – we’re making a new commitment today: By the end of next year, all AT&T home internet, home phone, and post-paid wireless consumers will be served by Care experts located in the United States. 

We’re still developing our hiring plans, but we know that many of these new roles will be full-time union jobs. This is part of a broader effort across the company to reduce our reliance on contractors where possible. 

Whether our frontline employees are splicing fiber or helping solve customer pain points, the work they are doing is meaningful and offers strong benefits and opportunities for advancement. That’s part of why we think it’s time for society to put less emphasis on the four-year degree. College is a great path for many, but it’s not the only one – especially as AI stands to reshape much of the jobs landscape in ways that are difficult to predict.

Taking the skilled trades path is not just a good choice for many workers – it’s also crucial to building a connected world and strengthening America’s economic competitiveness. U.S. employers will need to fill about 1.7 million skilled trades openings every year through 2035, according to the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades. But training programs across the country are producing just about half of the number of workers needed.

Ultimately, businesses, educators, and workforce organizations will need to work collectively to build the talent pipeline. While AI will change a lot, it won’t change the need for those who can make connections happen – whether through their technical know-how or their ability to help people solve problems.

Each of those jobs has purpose and dignity, and our doors are open.