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Headlines about the U.S. job market haven’t exactly been encouraging in 2025. Wage growth has cooled, big-tech layoffs keep surfacing and worries about a slowdown persist. But according to Ford CEO Jim Farley, there’s another side of the labor market that rarely makes the front page: high-paying jobs that are still out there — and going unfilled.
In a recent appearance on the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast, Farley recalled how his grandfather managed to build a “middle class life and a future for his family” through a blue-collar job at Ford — and insisted that similar opportunities still exist today (1).
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“Those jobs are out there: mechanics in a Ford dealership. As of this morning, we had 5,000 openings. A bay with a lift and tools and no one to work in it,” Farley said. “$120,000 a job a year, but it takes you five years to learn it. Take a diesel out of a Superduty — it takes a lot of skill. You need to know what you’re doing.”
It’s a striking contrast to the broader earnings picture. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median weekly earning for full-time U.S. workers in Q2 2025 was $1,196 — about $62,192 a year (2). Farley’s numbers suggest that thousands of roles pay nearly double that figure.
So why aren’t workers flocking to these jobs?
Farley points to a systemic shortage of training and education for skilled trades.
“We have over a million openings in critical jobs — emergency services, trucking, factory workers, plumbers, electricians and tradesmen. It’s a very serious thing. We do not have trade schools. We are not investing in educating a next generation of people like my grandfather who had nothing, who built a middle-class life and a future for his family,” he said.
Farley’s grandfather was the 389th employee hired at Ford. Today, the company’s workforce stands at roughly 180,000. Yet Farley argues that the pipeline feeding those hands-on roles has eroded — and that the consequences go far beyond economics.
“God forbid we ever get in a war, Google’s not going to be able to make the tanks and the planes. So, this is a self-defense for our country issue,” he said.
It’s not an abstract point: Ford famously produced thousands of tanks and other military vehicles for Allied forces during World War II. Farley’s concern is that America may no longer have enough skilled workers to do the same today.
“We are in trouble in our country,” he said bluntly.
Still, there are signs of a shift. Reports suggest a growing number of young Americans are opting for trade careers instead of pursuing traditional college degrees. Enrollment in trade schools rose 4.9% between 2020 and 2023, according to Validated Insights (3). Meanwhile, U.S. college enrollment fell by roughly 1.4 million students between 2012 and 2024, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (4).
Boosting your income — no matter the trade
Farley’s concerns come at a time when many Americans are already feeling financially stretched. The cost of living has continued to climb and surveys regularly show that more and more Americans are living paycheck to paycheck (5). That leaves little room for unexpected expenses, let alone long-term financial planning.
And while skilled trades can offer the potential for strong earnings, not everyone has the training — or the time — to pursue those paths. For many workers, the challenge isn’t just finding a job, but finding ways to build additional breathing room in an economy where day-to-day costs keep rising.
That’s why adding new income streams has become increasingly important. Even small amounts of passive income can help people get ahead of bills, cushion against uncertainty and start making real progress toward long-term goals like retirement.
So here’s a look at a few accessible ways to boost your income — no matter what you do for a living.
Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 solid, repeatable money rules to turn $9,800 into a $150B fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)
Earn rental income without becoming a landlord
One of the most time-tested strategies to generate passive income is through real estate investing. Owning a rental property can generate monthly cash flow through rent while also serving as a hedge against inflation — since property values and rental prices tend to rise over time alongside the cost of living.
However, being a landlord comes with its challenges. You’ll need to find and screen tenants, ensure rent is collected on time and deal with maintenance and repairs — out of pocket. And that’s assuming you can afford a down payment and qualify for a mortgage in the first place.
The good news? You don’t have to buy a property outright to invest in real estate anymore.
Mogul is a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 A.M. tenant calls.
Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10 to 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.
Getting started is a quick and easy process. You can sign up for an account and then browse available properties. Once you verify your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul in just a few clicks.
Another option could be First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to triple net leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.
Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.
Collect dividends
Another straightforward way to generate recurring income is through dividend-paying stocks — shares of companies that send a portion of their profits back to investors, often quarterly and sometimes even monthly.
For investors, those payouts can function like additional income. While stock prices can rise and fall, companies with a strong track record of paying — and growing — dividends offer investors a steady cash flow. Over time, those increases can compound into a powerful income stream.
As John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest Americans in history, once said, “Do you know the only thing that gives me pleasure? It’s to see my dividends coming in.”
If you’re interested in exploring dividend stocks, one of the easiest ways to get started is by opening a self-directed trading account with SoFi. This DIY approach allows you to invest with no commission fees, plus for a limited time you can get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account.
Plus, SoFi is designed to help you learn investing as you go, with real-time investing news, curated content and the data you need to make smart decisions about the stocks that matter most to you.
Let your cash hatch its own income
You don’t need a massive investment portfolio to build passive income. Even your spare cash can work harder for you — earning competitive yields instead of sitting idle.
To get started, a high-yield account, such as a Wealthfront Cash Account, can be a great place to grow your emergency funds, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your cash when you need it.
A Wealthfront Cash Account can provide a base variable APY of 3.50%, but Moneywise readers can get an exclusive 0.65% boost over their first three months for a total APY of 4.15% provided by program banks on your uninvested cash. That’s over nine times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s September report.
With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, you can ensure your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, Wealthfront Cash Account balances of up to $8 million are insured by the FDIC through program banks.
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Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
@OfficeHoursBusiness (1); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2); Business Wire (3); National Center for Education Statistics (4); USA Today (5)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.