RiverRun Digital Career Hub @RiverRunDigital

@RepMarkHarrisNC What career pathways are growing in your area right now? The Missing Middle — where hands-on work meets modern technology. Learn more at go.riverrun.digital

@RepMarkHarrisNC It keeps your options open and avoids the heavy debt that often comes with traditional college routes. If you’re 18 to 35 and want to see how your interests fit the three paths, take our free Career Fit Assessment. It’s quick and gives clear next steps.

Trade Tech 🤖 Rep. @RepMarkHarrisNC is highlighting how advanced manufacturing in North Carolina’s 8th district delivers strong career paths without a four-year degree.

Changing or "orchestrating" a full research process that used to take 3 days with a simple AI workflow using Perplexity, Claude, Notion AI, and Zapier. The same work now takes about 3 hours. For office workers, planners, and coordinators who do regular research, reporting, or content prep, reclaiming the majority of that time for higher-value tasks instead of manual gathering and organizing can be beneficial. Build one small workflow for a task you repeat often this week and track how much time it actually saves you. Want to know your payback for leveling up your skills with AI? go.riverrun.digital/WIITFM...

Digital 💻 Accounting firms report that AI now codes the majority of transactions automatically and only flags the ones needing human judgment. The old question of whether bookkeeping gets automated is largely settled in practice. Accountants and bookkeepers in these environments spend far less time on rote entry and more time on the analysis and advice that actually moves client results. Ask your current software provider what AI features are already active or test a simple AI bookkeeping add-on on last month’s transactions.

North Carolina's 8th district has a growing advanced manufacturing sector that creates solid jobs valuing hands-on skills and technical training over a traditional four-year degree. Rep. Mark Harris serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee and is working to expand such career pathways. This kind of statement from a member of Congress helps show young people that there are good options besides going straight to college. The Trade Technologist path is built for situations like this. It combines real-world craftsmanship in manufacturing environments with training in robotics, automation, and smart systems, so you can step into modern production work. If this direction interests you, spend a few minutes on the free Career Fit Assessment at go.riverrun.digital/My-Path. It matches your strengths to the Digital, Physical Trades, or Trade Technologist paths and suggests practical steps, such as checking local apprenticeships or manufacturer training programs.

I would say that the educational aspect is growing although it's still not reached where it needs to be. The challenge is that many of our younger people in the United Stares are unaware or not sure how to actually proceed down a path that isn't college-bound. They've been taught over and over again that if you don't go to college you'll never really make it and I don't believe that's true. To put a humorous spin on it in the future we probably need somebody like MacGyver that not only knows how to deal with things in the physical world and create things in the physical world but also is very knowledgeable about how to do things in the technical world as well.

What permitting or policy changes have you seen boost blue-collar job growth in your area? Share below.

These career paths frequently offer competitive wages and benefits through apprenticeships and on-the-job training rather than traditional four-year degrees. nam.org/issues/permitt…

The National Association of Manufacturers reports that U.S. manufacturers face an annual permitting burden of at least $7.9 billion due to lengthy approval processes.

We see it every day. AI generates long reports. Someone else feeds them back into AI for a summary. Then another long reply comes out. It feels like progress, but it is not. The real payoff comes when AI plugs straight into actual work. In the trades, that means predictive maintenance catching failures before they happen, smart diagnostics letting electricians and HVAC techs fix issues in minutes, or tablets guiding technicians through robotic calibration on the factory floor. If you are ready for tools that change how the job gets done, check out our workshops like Using AI in the Trades or Predictive Maintenance with AI. They are short, practical, and built for people who work with their hands. DM us to learn more or visit riverrun.digital for the next session.

Secretary Wright says President Trump has unleashed the Golden Age of American Energy and that the country must reindustrialize and manufacture energy intensive infrastructure to strengthen nat ional security and expand economic opportunity. This focus creates massive demand for skilled trades in construction, manufacturing, electrical work, and maintenance across energy projects. People who build real skills in the Trade Technologist path gain a clear advantage. They combine hands-on craftsmanship with modern technology like smart systems, robotics, and advanced controls to deliver the infrastructure America needs right now. Take the free RiverRun Career Fit Assessment at go.riverrun.digital/My-Path to see how your strengths match energy sector roles and find training options that lead to steady work without heavy debt.

The Department of Education says America’s future depends on skills-based hiring, workforce readiness, apprenticeships, and upskilling. Workforce Pell grants aim to open multiple pathways to the American Dream. This direction matches real demand for practical skills that lead to steady work without years of college debt. Trade and Trade Technologist roles sit at the center of that shift. People who choose hands-on paths with modern tools often gain faster independence and stronger earning power than those locked into traditional degree tracks. The Trade Technologist path proves you can master craftsmanship while adding AI, robotics, and smart systems for even better results. Take the free RiverRun Career Fit Assessment at go.riverrun.digital/My-Path to see which path fits your strengths and start building those skills today.

This matters for trades because quicker approvals trigger more plant builds and upgrades. That creates real demand for welders, machinists, electricians, and fabricators who earn strong pay through apprenticeships instead of college debt. How can more states advance similar reforms? Share examples.

Building Trades unions train and supply workers for infrastructure, manufacturing, power, and data centers. The real gap often comes from owners and contractors failing to plan workforce needs early. Apprenticeships through unions provide paid training and clear paths to strong careers.