Here’s a surprising trend: a May 2025 survey by Resume Builder reveals that 42% of Gen Z adults are either working in skilled trades or actively pursuing careers in fields like plumbing, welding, and electrical work. Even more striking, 37% of these trade-focused individuals already hold a bachelor’s degree. Interest in trade schools has skyrocketed—up nearly 100% since 2017—while traditional universities face declining enrollment.
Tracy Lorenz, Division President of Universal Technical Institute, captures this shift perfectly: “Young Gen Z will increasingly view skilled trades as a more practical and fulfilling alternative to traditional career paths.” The growing enthusiasm for these hands-on careers signals a significant cultural shift in how the next generation approaches work and education.
College Costs Are Through the Roof
Your friend’s cousin recently graduated from college with $80,000 in student debt and is now working in a coffee shop. Gen Z has spent years watching that story unfold. The average tuition and fees at public four-year schools increased by 84% between the 1999-2000 and 2019-2020 academic years
Although Gen Z has accrued less student debt than previous generations, they still carry an average of $23,000 in educational loans. Meanwhile, the cost of a four-year degree has skyrocketed, often far exceeding this amount. To make matters worse, earning a degree no longer guarantees a job waiting on the other side.
Robots Can’t Fix Your Sink
Here’s a fun one. According to a survey conducted by Resume Builder, 25% of Gen Zers in skilled trade industries say they entered those careers because they believe they will be less likely to be replaced by a robot.
While A.I. may soon replace our next customer service representative, assist with home repairs, or even provide legal advice, there’s still no robot designed to crawl under a house to fix a burst pipe.
The Money Talks
Welders at the beginning of their careers can also earn as much as $57,000 a year and beyond. A skilled electrician, plumber, or HVAC technician can also earn a six-figure income in a few years. Compare that to the average college grad who spends months job hunting, may take unpaid internships, and then starts in their field at $35,000.
Gen Z does the math and figures that they can make more money earlier without the oppressive burden of debt. And all that overtime pay in the trades is real money, not the “pizza party as a bonus” many office workers get.
Jobs Are Waiting for Them
More than 90% of construction firms found it “hard” to “difficult” to fill key skilled trades positions, the AGC of America and Arcoro survey said. The company reports that 94% of contractors experienced difficulty finding suitable candidates to hire in 2024.
Gen Z graduates from trade programs often enter the workforce straight away, frequently with multiple job offers in hand. Meanwhile, their college-attending peers can spend months sending out résumés, often with little response.
They Want to Be the Boss of Themselves
Gen Z has grown up witnessing YouTube creators and Instagram entrepreneurs build thriving businesses from scratch. Similarly, skilled trades offer the same entrepreneurial freedom—the chance to start a small, bootstrapped business from a garage or even work out of an Airstream.
These careers provide flexibility to freelance, launch your own company, or work part-time. For example, a trained electrician can work for a company during the day while taking on residential projects on weekends, combining stability with independence.
These Aren’t Your Grandpa’s Tools
Modern trades rely on smartphones, tablets, diagnostic apps, and even virtual reality for training. Intelligent tools are linked to wireless networks, and technicians utilize augmented reality to work on complex systems.
Jarred McNeely, chief academic officer at Sonoran Desert Institute says, “many of these tools, are reliant on the smartphone or tablet as the way you interact and that definitely puts Gen Z in a unique situation as a generation that grew up with that technology.”
They Want to See Real Results
There’s something undeniably satisfying about fixing a broken air conditioner on a sweltering summer day, knowing you’ve immediately improved someone’s life. This desire for tangible, impactful work resonates strongly with Gen Z.
They crave jobs where they can proudly say, “I built that” or “I fixed that.” It’s a stark contrast to many office roles, which often revolve around abstract projects that may never come to fruition or are abandoned after months of effort.
College Isn’t The Magic Bullet Anymore
Between 2015 and 2024, Americans’ confidence in higher education plummeted from 57% to 36%—a striking 21-point drop, as reported by Yahoo Finance. Many young people witnessed older siblings graduate into gig economy jobs, where college degrees often proved unnecessary.
In contrast, skilled trades present a more appealing alternative, offering a clear career path, union support, and retirement benefits; perks many corporate roles no longer provide. For Gen Z, the question is clear: does taking on years of student debt make sense when trade certification can lead to a stable, well-paying career right away?
Social Media Made Trades Cool Again
Tik Tok welders with millions of followers and YouTube electricians explaining how to do DIY repairs have changed how young people view skilled trades. These platforms feature successful, young tradespeople who lead fulfilling lives, drive nice trucks, and operate lucrative businesses.
Slate explains how work is being redefined for Gen Z by platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The stigma of ‘blue-collar’ work disappears, it turns out, when you see 25-year-old contractors posting videos from their dream homes.
Work-Life Balance Exists
Many trade jobs offer a healthy work-life balance because when you clock out, it’s done. No midnight emails, no weekend conference calls, no “urgent” projects. Gen Z values mental health and personal time over impressing bosses who might lay them off, anyway.
Skilled trades tend to offer better benefits, union protection, and predictable schedules, allowing workers to live their lives outside of work hours.
Key Takeaways
Gen Z’s pivot to trade schools is a broader shift in how young Americans view career success. They’re pursuing financial stability, job security, and work-life balance over traditional markers of prestige. This generation witnessed millennials wrestle with student debt and underemployment, and made different decisions in light of practical realities.
The result? A generation of young workers who can purchase houses, launch new businesses, and accumulate wealth without spending years paying off student loans.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
16 Grocery Staples to Stock Up On Before Prices Spike Again
16 Grocery Staples to Stock Up On Before Prices Spike Again
I was in the grocery store the other day, and it hit me—I’m buying the exact same things I always do, but my bill just keeps getting higher. Like, I swear I just blinked, and suddenly eggs are a luxury item. What’s going on?
Inflation, supply-chain delays, and erratic weather conditions have modestly (or, let’s face it, dramatically) pushed the prices of staples ever higher. The USDA reports that food prices climbed an additional 2.9% year over year in May 2025—and that’s after the inflation storm of 2022–2023.
So, if you’ve got room in a pantry, freezer, or even a couple of extra shelves, now might be a good moment to stock up on these staple groceries—before the prices rise later.
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
We scoured the Internet to see what people had to say about gas station food. If you think the only things available are wrinkled hot dogs of indeterminate age and day-glow slushies, we’ve got great, tasty news for you. Whether it ends up being part of a regular routine or your only resource on a long car trip, we have the food info you need.
Let’s look at 6 gas stations that folks can’t get enough of and see what they have for you to eat.
