Abstract

AI is revolutionizing things! Salaries are determined more by "supply and demand" than by educational background.

What determines high annual income? Essentially, it's neither educational background nor skills, but the balance of supply and demand. With the spread of AI and labor shortages, the balance of supply and demand in the labor market is changing dramatically. We explore the direction of this era of uncertainty for white-collar workers by examining the reality of high-income blue-collar workers, also known as blue-collar billionaires.

As AI evolves and spreads, desk work is expected to become oversupplied worldwide, and its value is projected to plummet. On the other hand, the landscape is quite different for blue-collar workers who use physical skills. There is a significant shortage of workers to meet the strong demand for on-site work, and the relative value of these jobs is increasing. This structural change will naturally have repercussions on salary levels.

- At power line construction sites where workers operate from aerial work platforms, there are skilled workers who have honed their skills after graduating from high school and are now earning over 10 million yen a year.
- A female site supervisor at Obayashi Corporation, who moved from headquarters to on-site work and saw a salary increase, is now earning over 10 million yen a year at the age of 37.
- Tuna fishing boats, once associated with harsh labor to repay debts, have become more ethical workplaces, transforming into places where young people can stably aim for an annual income of over 10 million yen.

This book explores the realities of high-income blue-collar workers, where an annual income of over 10 million yen is no longer uncommon, their work styles, and career development. From construction and electrical work to customer service, transportation, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and even the situation in the United States, this book meticulously interviews 19 real-life examples to explore career strategies in an era where white-collar jobs are in flux.

Author’s Information

- Tom Sato
After working as a local government employee in a sparsely populated area and as a newspaper reporter, he joined Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. in 2022. After working at Nikkei Construction and other departments, he became a reporter for Nikkei Business. He has consistently covered infrastructure fields such as water supply and roads, as well as disaster recovery efforts.

- Takahiro Onishi
Joined Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. in 2001. After working at Nikkei Ecology, the Nikkei Securities Department, and as the head of the Nikkei BP London Bureau, he became the editor-in-chief of Nikkei Business. His books include "Masayoshi Son's Impatience" and "Why the World is Choosing EVs" (Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.).