481: Jason Altmire—Trade Up
From The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe by The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
April 28, 2026 · 1h 22m · Episode 481
About this episode
Mike Rowe interviews former congressman Jason Altmire about the importance of skilled trades and the skills gap in America.
Former congressman Jason Altmire has spent years in Washington—and even more time outside it—making the case that America's biggest opportunity isn't behind a desk, but behind a welding mask, a set of tools, or the wheel of a big machine. Now leading Career Education Colleges and Universities , he's on a mission to close the skills gap and reconnect hard work with real opportunity. In this episode, Mike and Jason dig into why millions of good jobs go unfilled, why the stigma around skilled labor refuses to die, and what it'll take to convince a new generation that "college for all" might not be the answer. Along the way, they unpack the ideas behind Jason's book, Trade Up: Why the Future Belongs to Skilled Trades and How Career Education is Transforming the Workforce —and make a compelling case that the fastest way to achieve the American Dream might be to pursue a skilled trade. Tip o' the hat to our excellent sponsors PureTalk.com/Rowe Get UNLIMITED hi-speed data for just $34.99 per month! SkillsUSA.org/mike Join the skilled trade movement! GoodRanchers.com Use code MIKE to get $25 off your first order & FREE meat for life. mikeroweWORKS.org/scholarship to apply for a work…
People in this episode
Host: Mike Rowe
Guest: Jason Altmire
Topics covered
- skilled trades
- skills gap
- career education
- American Dream
- workforce development
Keywords
- skilled labor
- career opportunities
- college education
- work ethic
- job market
Sponsors
PureTalk, SkillsUSA, Good Ranchers, mikeroweWORKS
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Career Education Colleges and Universities
Books & works: Trade Up: Why the Future Belongs to Skilled Trades and How Career Education is Transforming the Workforce
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