Embracing a New Path: Gen Z’s Bold Move Towards Trade Schools
We’re all familiar with the classic narrative: get a college degree, snag a good job, live happily ever after. But, as the fresh-faced Class of 2024 proudly holds their high school diplomas, another story is unfolding. It’s the story of Gen Z swapping mortarboards for tool belts and finding perhaps an even happier ‘ever after’.
According to a recent survey by my company, a substantial 83% of respondents believe that learning a skilled trade can offer better economic security than a traditional college route. Astonishingly, this includes 90% of those who already hold college degrees. With TikTok buzzing with trade-related content, and outlets like The Wall Street Journal and NPR dubbing them the ‘toolbelt generation,’ there’s clearly something compelling about this shift.
With skyrocketing tuition fees and the looming threat of AI replacing traditional desk jobs, Generation Z (those born from 1997 to 2012) is on the hunt for careers that they can mold with their own hands and ideas. And they’re finding it in the world of skilled trades and small businesses.
A Love for the Craft: Why Shop Class Shines
The interest in skilled trades isn’t just a fleeting trend. Young people genuinely value these skills. Our survey of 1,000 young adults (aged 18-30) and more than 800 skilled trades workers found that 86% of those who took shop class in high school rated it among their favorite classes. There’s a deep-seated respect here – over 70% hold skilled tradespeople in higher regard than tech workers, lawyers, and even bankers.
What’s even more intriguing is the pull these trades have. A solid 47% of respondents express a desire for a career in the skilled trades. This isn’t just about practicality but a yearning for autonomy and a sense of personal fulfillment. Imagine, 80% of them are drawn to the flexible schedules, reduced educational costs and debt, shorter educational programs, superior job readiness, and the golden opportunity to be their own boss.
Freedom from Desks and AI
In the age of generative AI, many are waking up to the irreplaceable value of hands-on jobs. Pew Research Center points out that workers with bachelor’s degrees are more than twice as likely to be at risk from AI compared to those without. Contrasting this, jobs like electrical work, plumbing, and masonry – trades least affected by AI according to an OpenAI study – are looking more attractive than ever.
Think about it. While ChatGPT might tackle a myriad of tasks, it can’t physically help homeowners hang drywall, rewire a car garage, or unclog a kitchen sink. The hands-on, tangible work of skilled trades remains essential and irreplaceable, especially when it comes to real-life, immediate needs like painting a nursery or fixing up your home for the holidays.
Given the prospect of monotonous, screen-bound tasks, it’s no wonder that the hands-on, independent nature of skilled trades rejuvenates the Gen Z spirit. And, they’re spot-on about their career choices. Among adults in the home services trades, a whopping 87% are content with their jobs, with 95% optimistic about their future earning potential and job security. To cap it off, 94% would endorse such careers to their own families.
The Growing Demand for Skilled Hands
The demand for skilled professionals continues to rise. A significant shortage of qualified tradespeople, like plumbers and carpenters, has propelled wage growth rates for non-college workers higher than those of degree holders. Driven by renewed legislative focus, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has earmarked over $280 billion for essential transportation infrastructure – a goldmine for repair and maintenance work.
Moreover, with increasing needs for affordable housing and swift construction timelines, the importance of expanding the skilled labor force is ever more apparent. Addressing climate change also calls for extensive investment in sustainable construction and infrastructure.
Charting the Future with Skilled Trades
In our ever-evolving world, new skills pave the way for long-term career success. Modernizing trades with advancements like digital blueprints, 3D printing, eco-friendly building materials, and smart home systems opens up a realm of potential for today’s tradespeople. Recognizing that college isn’t the sole gateway to prosperity is a cultural shift long overdue. Skilled tradespeople are invaluable, performing essential work while loving their jobs and earning a comfortable living. For many in Generation Z, that’s a compelling reason to rethink what their futures might hold.
Indeed, the age-old narrative of traditional college degrees leading to guaranteed success is being challenged, and refreshingly so. Embracing a hands-on career in the skilled trades isn’t just a fallback; it’s a forward-thinking choice that’s rewarding not just financially, but personally and professionally.
