Skilled trades pull ahead as white collar hiring slips

Skilled trade job openings rose 5.49% YoY in Q2 2026, while white collar postings fell -3.01% over the same period. The gain fits a broader 2026 pattern as light industrial roles have become the engine of hiring, fueled in part by the ongoing wave of AI data center construction that keeps demand high for electricians, HVAC technicians, and other trades. White collar hiring shows no comparable tailwind, underscoring how unevenly labor demand is distributing across the market.