Switching Sides—Gen Z Shows Interest in Taking up Skilled Trades

Leave it to the Gen Zers to pull another surprise out of their bags. According to recent reports, Gen Z is showing interest in skilled trades careers, shifting away from the current emphasis on corporate work. Globally, blue-collar jobs and skilled trades are treated as the inferior option to building a career in engineering or HR, and this attitude has significantly reduced the number of individuals interested in working a hands-on job. 

The unlimited power of social media has now revived Gen Z’s interest in skilled trades, bringing us back full circle to witness a renewed interest in this field. Many Gen Zers are skipping college in favor of trade schools, and considering the price of college education and the burden of student debt that many Millennials are left with, it appears to be a much better economic choice for many. 

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An Increasing Number of Gen Z Workers Are Turning to Skilled Trades

The Future of Skilled Trades Report from technology company Thumbtack found that 55% of Gen Z is now considering a career in the skilled trades and the number goes up to 72 percent for Gen Zers who already have a college degree. The rise in Gen Z’s interest in the skilled trades has been tied to social media, particularly TikTok and Instagram. Short-form video content often showcases workers in these settings and has drawn the attention of the young population, enough that they are currently considering building their future in these areas.

Social media platforms are the primary indicators of what’s “trending” in the present day, and while this is typically seen as a negative phenomenon, many positive changes can be observed as well. Openly discussing mental health and normalizing self-care for the average consumer has been one of the primary benefits of social media so far, but Gen Z’s interest in blue-collar jobs is just as noteworthy. 

The study also found that there is no longer a stark gendered difference in the preference shown by Gen Z towards skilled trades. Women from this age group show almost as much interest in these professions as men do—52% vs 57%. Skilled trades also appear to offer much greater job satisfaction compared to other career paths like lawyers and doctors.

Why Is Gen Z Gaining Interest in Blue-Collar Jobs?

Admittedly, this shift likely has to do with the rise of workers in these fields filming content at their jobs and showcasing the perks of their professions. Social media content in relation to blue-collar jobs has showcased how they offer everyone the opportunity to feel more empowered and give them the freedom to express themselves more comfortably compared to a stiff corporate setup. 

An NPR report from back in April spoke to different individuals who have made their careers honing their skills in the trades, and these workers explained that they were able to start their own businesses after gaining experience working for a few years. The freedom to “call the shots” is not something a desk job can guarantee. 

The shift towards a more positive perception of these trades also has to do with economic security, and it isn’t limited to Gen Z. Parents of these workers, nearly 80% of them, also state that learning a skilled trade could be a better path towards a stable job that pays well in the long run. Many of these parents still encourage their kids to get a four-year college degree as it provides a sense of security they can fall back on if they need it. 

College Degrees are No longer as Attractive to Gen Z

College degrees started as a way to gain a more “reputable” job and it has continued as a status symbol or a milestone that we continue to tick off of a checklist. For many years now, the real-world relevance of a college degree has lost its shine. Many workers fail to find employment on the basis of their degrees and find themselves working in an unrelated profession. 

Paying for college has also become increasingly expensive and many no longer feel the burden of student loans is worth it. More frequently, Gen Zers are skipping college and opting for trade schools instead.

Blue-collar jobs and Gen Z do not appear to be an ideal match-up at first, but this section of the population has never been one to shy away from trying something new. Over the last few decades, corporate jobs have been seen as the more stable path toward finding long-term success but that is no longer true. Skilled trades come with their own list of challenges but despite that, they have a lot to offer.

There has been a very noticeable shortage of workers in these alternate professions and even if the interest does come from social media, Gen Z workers entering skilled trades could be good for the workers and the economy as a whole. Jobs that require a college degree are already inundated with workers trying to make it in the field and this spread of resources could be just what we need as a community.

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