Carson Daly Urges Son to Consider Trade Work Over Traditional College Path

Carson Daly is advising his oldest son to consider a trade career over the traditional college route, citing rapid changes in the job market and educational landscape. The TODAY show host suggested his 17-year-old son Jackson might benefit more from learning skilled trades like electrical work than pursuing a four-year university degree.

During remarks at a Father's Day event in New York, Daly reflected on the challenge of watching his son approach adulthood. Jackson, a junior in high school, has begun touring colleges including Clemson, South Carolina, and Georgia alongside his mother, Siri. Yet Daly expressed ambivalence about whether the traditional educational path remains the best option for high school graduates in the current environment.

"Jackson's looking at college right now," Daly explained. "He's 17, a junior in high school. In two years when he's a freshman in college, the entire educational process of how or what he's supposed to get out of a four-year university experience is completely changing in real-time." Daly noted that his son might benefit from developing skills in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, but emphasized the value of practical work. "I'm trying to get him into a trade. I'm like, 'Hey, man. Become an electrician,'" Daly said, noting that essential services like AC repair will always require human expertise.

Beyond career considerations, Daly emphasized his desire to remain close to his son during this pivotal period. The family lives on Long Island, and Daly joked about encouraging Jackson to attend a local university so they could remain nearby. "I'm going to get an awesome condo right down the street, and you and I are going to have a great freshman year!" he remarked, expressing the broader parental sentiment that time passes quickly with children.

Daly's comments reflect broader conversations about education's role in preparing young people for employment. As technological advancement accelerates and the cost of higher education continues rising, many parents and educators are reconsidering whether a four-year degree represents the optimal path for every student.