When did the word 'tradesperson' become taboo?

Why is it that in a 10,000-word government report on the future of skills in Britain, the word “trade” only appears once?

The Assessment of Priority Skills to 2030, published in August 2025, talks at length about construction, engineering, manufacturing and digital technologies. These are trades in all but name. And yet the language of “trade” is missing, replaced with neutral terms like “skills systems” or “priority occupations”.

This linguistic shift is more than semantics. I believe it reflects a deeper discomfort among decisionmakers to associate careers with a word that carries outdated connotations, rather than with the pride and respect they are due.

For generations, to ‘learn a trade’ meant acquiring knowledge, discipline, and a skill that society depended on. It was a mark of professionalism. Yet in today’s education debate, ‘trade’ has become a word that many prefer not to use. Instead, we talk of technical education and vocational pathways, as if rebranding could change deep-seated attitudes.

Read more:

• Privately educated elite five times more likely to take Britain’s most powerful and influential jobs
• Most people with ADHD do not tell their employer – here’s why we must break the silence
• Why so many Gen Z workers are retiring in their 20s

But language shapes perception, and this can shape policy, funding, and ultimately the choices young people make about their futures.

This matters more than ever. The latest figures show that as of this past summer, more than 948,000 young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEET), and youth unemployment stands at 13.8%, with over 620,000 young people actively seeking work. These figures represent lost potential, stalled ambition, and a generation at risk of being left behind.

Many of these young people could thrive in skilled trades but they are not being encouraged to see those paths as respected or worthy of aiming for. The stigma surrounding trades has been reinforced by the language we use.

Trades remain the foundation of our economy and our daily lives. Communities cannot function without skilled electricians, builders, engineers, digital technicians, chefs, carers and countless others. These are highly skilled professionals whose expertise cannot be replaced by AI or outsourced cheaply. In fact, many of these careers are future-proof: demand is growing, salaries are rising and the work is deeply rewarding.

And yet, the stigma persists. We see it in the language of policy documents, in the way careers are presented in schools, and in the media narratives that shape public opinion.

In his speech at this year’s Labour Party Conference, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer brought things closer to home by talking about his dad, being an apprentice: “He always felt disrespected, my dad. Undervalued by the nation… Because he worked with his hands,” but not being given the same respect as someone who went to university, despite the hard and complicated work he was doing. This story isn’t new, but it too, is missing the word “trade”. It’s disappeared from our speeches, our rhetoric, and now is at risk of vanishing from our policies, too.

If we hesitate to use the word “trade”, we risk reinforcing the very stigma we want to overcome. Instead, we should reclaim it. We need more young people to enter skilled trades and to see them as valuable, respected, and ambitious choices.

I can’t help but think about Dwight Gayle, a former professional footballer, who is visiting our students this month to talk about his career. While he will always be known for his excellence on the football pitch, what about the fact that he also trained as a carpenter, and was working refurbishing offices after he was released as a youth by Arsenal? You don’t immediately think of that as a natural mid-career step for an English striker, and yet, it’s a solid career path. It’s steady work. It pays. And carpentry, no matter who does it, deserves recognition as a trade worthy of respect, whether it’s being done by a master craftsman, a former professional footballer or studied by a student or apprentice.

A trade is a career, a livelihood, and a source of pride. To speak of trades is to acknowledge the work of those who keep our trains running, our lights on, and the nation’s infrastructure going.

As education leaders, employers, and policymakers, we must do more than invest in skills, we must alter our language and our public perception of trades as a whole. Trades should be seen as a path to opportunity, not a consolation prize. Reclaiming the word trade is not just about semantics; it’s about opening doors, restoring dignity, and building a future that works for everyone.

It is time to reclaim the word.

Angela Joyce is chief executive officer of Capital City College.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

Reader-funded since 1991 – Big Issue brings you trustworthy journalism that drives real change.

Every day, our journalists dig deeper, speaking up for those society overlooks.

Could you help us keep doing this vital work? Support our journalism from £5 a month.