Spanish logistics entrepreneur Yaiza Canosa has spoken out against degree obsession, arguing that traditional skilled trades offer higher profitability and career growth than many roles in the technology sector.
Speaking on the Actitud Constante podcast on November 9, 2025, the 33-year-old founder and chief executive of logistics operator GOI said she knew more plumbers stepping out of Land Rovers than IT developers. Canosa, who is originally from Galicia, pointed to a long-standing trend that drove young people toward university degrees while essential manual trades fell into acute shortage.
The structural deficit of qualified professionals in Spain and other countries has delayed projects while creating high demand for established workers. Entrepreneur José Elías noted that the current shortage represented a major opportunity for individuals willing to adapt or retrain for technical trades.
Hiring difficulties and rising rates
For business owners working in trades, expanding workforces has proven increasingly difficult. Javier Calatayud, a self-employed electrician, said the ongoing challenge remained trying to hire someone, describing recruitment as the primary pending task in his field. Calatayud also explained the rule of one and a half that currently conditions operations across the industry.
Generational replacement remains in question across manual professions. Electrician Iñaki Martínez reported experiencing daily hurdles when seeking staff to enlarge his team and keep pace with incoming service requests. The resulting labor squeeze limits operational capacity while driving up customer rates.
The shift has created serious concerns about the workforce pipeline. Carolina Marrero, an electrician, warned about the future of the labor fabric, noting that the incoming generation entering the sector required a great deal of encouragement to stay the course.
Past stigma and career potential
Canosa attributed much of the current staffing crisis to social perceptions built up over past decades. She explained that traditional occupations such as mechanics, masons, and plumbers were historically depicted as choices for students who did not wish to pursue academic studies, offering limited training and demanding physical labor.
She noted that manual roles were still not socially well regarded or seen as stylish and cool by younger workers. However, she argued that this perception clashed directly with economic reality, describing trades as wonderful sectors where individuals could earn strong incomes, advance professionally, and build their own businesses without facing a salary ceiling.
Artificial intelligence and manual jobs
The discussion around physical trades comes amid growing debate over the impact of artificial intelligence on office work. Canosa stated that technology would not replace workers on its own, but rather that professionals who adopted software tools would replace those who failed to adapt.
Manual professions retain unique stability because algorithms cannot automate physical installations and repairs. Canosa emphasized that there were many practical tasks that technology could not reach and never would, shielding trade workers from digital disruption.
She expressed strong disagreement with the credentialism that affected past generations and left trade sectors without young recruits. Although previous predictions for trade workers were negative, those who chose technical professions are now reaping financial rewards that show no sign of diminishing.
