logo
episode-header-image
Jul 5
19m 11s

Back to the Workshop: The Rise of Blue-C...

Skip Montreux, Dez Morgan & Samantha Vega | Business English Instructors
About this episode

Blue-collar jobs are making a comeback around the world. As white-collar office work loses some of its shine, skilled trades are attracting more people than ever before—with higher pay, job security, and newfound respect. But what’s driving this shift, and what challenges still face blue-collar workers today?

Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega dive into the rising popularity of blue-collar careers. They explore why young people are increasingly choosing trade roles over office jobs, how wages are changing, and what it all means for the global workforce.

Their conversation is a great learning resource if you want to build your English listening comprehension skills and expand your business vocabulary. Key points of their discussion include:

  1. The definition and origins of ‘blue-collar’ jobs.
  2. How attitudes toward skilled trades are changing.
  3. Why blue-collar jobs are attracting more workers.
  4. Factors behind the skilled trades shortage.


Do you like what you hear?

Become a D2B Member today for to access to our -- NEW!!!-- interactive audio scripts, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes.

Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

Follow Down to Business English on Apple podcasts, rate the show, and leave a comment.

Contact Skip, Dez, and Samantha at

downtobusinessenglish@gmail.com

Follow Skip & Dez

Skip Montreux on Linkedin

Skip Montreux on Instagram

Skip Montreux on Twitter

Skip Montreux on Facebook

Dez Morgan on Twitter

RSS Feed

Up next
Aug 18
The Protein Push: From Bodybuilding Niche to Global Trend
Once limited to gyms and fitness circles, protein-packed products have gone mainstream. From “proffee” at Starbucks to high-protein rice balls at Japanese convenience stores, protein is everywhere — and the market is booming. In this episode of Down to Business English, Samantha ... Show More
18m 59s
Aug 11
The Coldplay Kiss-Cam Scandal
A viral Kiss Cam moment at a Coldplay concert exposed an affair between two executives of the data tech company Astronomer, forcing both to resign. But instead of hiding from the scandal, Astronomer turned the incident into a surprising PR win. In this episode of Down to Business ... Show More
14m 20s
Jul 24
Reimagining Wearables
Smart glasses are making a comeback, with big tech companies hoping these AI-powered wearables will soon become part of everyday life. But will smart glasses finally become popular, or will they fail again like before? In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux an ... Show More
23m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 21
Which Degrees Are Useless Now? English Listening Ep 819
Did you know some university degrees could actually make it harder to find a job? Hi everyone, and welcome back to Adept English https://adeptenglish.com/language-courses/ your goto place for interesting English listening. Today, we're tackling a big question: Are university degr ... Show More
14m 22s
Apr 2025
🧑‍💼 Employment and job-related issues (Part 3) + Transcript
Our episode archive: https://patreon.com/ieltssfs What jobs are hard to do? Who should be paid more? How important is giving training to employees? Is salary the most important factor when choosing a job? Tune in and have a great day! - Book a class with Rory here: https://succes ... Show More
28m 46s
Feb 2025
184. Fit or Quit? Find the Job That is Right For You—Catalyze Your Career
Stay prepared, build your network, and take control of your career.Most of us know that career growth is important—but according to Catherine Fisher, we're thinking about it all wrong. It’s not just about landing a job or climbing the ladder; it’s about staying adaptable, buildin ... Show More
22m 21s
Feb 2025
187. Experimenting, Failing, and Finding Your Job Fit - Catalyze Your Career
Rethink career success by testing, adapting, and staying open to unexpected opportunities.Career planning isn’t as straightforward as we often assume—but according to Dorie Clark, that’s actually a good thing. Instead of following a rigid path, she believes we should be “treating ... Show More
22m 13s
Apr 2025
World reacts to Trump's tariffs
How are Trump's latest tariffs affecting the global economy? Find full subtitles and a worksheet for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2025/250409 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www ... Show More
8m 20s
Sep 2024
How Understanding Global Population Decline Can Help You Learn English Faster Ep 777
Do you think delaying having children for a career is worth it? What if people simply don’t want children any more? A reminder that our premium subscription podcasts are now live! For the price of just one nice coffee a month you can listen to 8 new subscriber only episodes every ... Show More
14m 43s
Jun 12
209. Find Your Fit, Find Your Focus - Catalyze Your Career
How to turn curiosity, clarity, and AI into your most powerful job search tools.Job search isn’t just about landing your next role—it’s about understanding who you are and how you want to show up in the world. According to Andrew Seaman, Senior Managing Editor for Jobs and Career ... Show More
25m 34s
Jul 2024
Game-Changing Career Tips (ft. Ari Murray)
Listen up kiddos, because the elder millennials are here to tell you a tale about the dos and don’ts of career growth.Grandpa Daniel and Grandma Ari have learned a lot about moving up a rung or two on the career ladder. And we’re here to teach a lesson or two to you young’uns on ... Show More
8m 42s
Jan 2025
Navigating the Job Market in 2025 - In Conversation with Dr Kyle Elliott
Love Your Career Podcast? Let us know!In episode 270 of Your Career Podcast I welcome back Dr. Kyle Elliott, tech industry specialist and trauma-informed career coach, to discuss the evolving job market in 2025 and practical strategies for job seekers. I first interviewed Kyle in ... Show More
32m 16s
Jul 2024
English Listening Practice: Friends & Money Ep 758
English listening https://adeptenglish.com/english/listening/ practice that keeps you curious. Today we ask the question: Is money tearing your friendships apart? It's an interesting subject as, at some point, we all go through this part of our lives, so you'll want to listen to ... Show More
14m 10s