Why Elon Musk wants Americans to ditch college and become electricians, plumbers, or a carpenter instead

SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk says the United States need more electricians, plumbers, and carpenters than political science majors.

Musk said electricians and plumbers are a lot more important than incremental political science majors.

“I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands. We need electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. That's a lot more important than having incremental political science majors," Musk said.


The billionaire made this statement in October this year, during a rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.


The billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk recently argued against the necessity of a four-year college degree. Musk said a traditional college education is often overrated for career success. He highlighted the financial burdens and lack of practical job skills many graduates face.

Musk shared his views in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. He questioned the relevance of a four-year degree in today’s job market. He noted that many graduates leave college with debt and without the skills needed for current jobs. Musk pointed to the importance of skilled trades, such as electricians and plumbers, which are often overlooked.

“I think we should not have this idea that to be successful you need a four-year college degree. That is simply not true,” Musk said. He stressed the importance of practical skills over academic credentials.

Musk’s comments reflect similar statements he made in 2020. At that time, he said college is not essential for learning, given the amount of free information available online. He suggested universities are more valuable for teaching discipline and social skills.

Musk’s perspective aligns with other tech leaders. Apple CEO Tim Cook has stated a college degree is not required for employment at Apple, prioritizing skills and experience.

Despite his views, Musk earned two bachelor's degrees from Queen’s University and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He briefly attended a PhD program at Stanford University but left to start businesses that eventually led to PayPal and SpaceX.