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mahatmakanejeeves

(65,553 posts)
Thu Jul 3, 2025, 08:41 AM Jul 3

Gen Z is ditching college for 'more secure' trade jobs--but ...

Gen Z is ditching college for ‘more secure’ trade jobs—but building inspectors, electricians and plumbers actually have the worst unemployment

BY ORIANNA ROSA ROYLE
ASSOCIATE EDITOR, SUCCESS
July 2, 2025 at 8:52 AM EDT

• With AI coming for white collar work, Gen Z have been ditching college and corner office ambitions, in favor of taking up traditional trades like welding, plumbing, and carpentry. But they’re in for a rude awakening: high unemployment rates, unhappiness and automation risks.

Trade jobs are having a moment. Touted as the smarter, safer alternative to “irrelevant” overpriced degrees and entry-level white-collar jobs (which tech CEOs warn could soon be swallowed by AI), traditional manual work is experiencing a resurgence among Gen Z.

Around 78% of Americans say they’ve noticed a spike in young people turning to jobs like carpentry, electrical work and welding, according to a 2024 Harris Poll for Intuit Credit Karma. They’re not wrong. Trade school enrollment really has been surging post-pandemic, even outpacing university enrollment.

And it makes sense: six-figure salaries without student loans, the freedom to work for yourself, and hands-on, real-world skills that can’t be outsourced to a chatbot. But new research suggests that the reality isn’t as stable—or as future-proof—as it’s being pitched.

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Gen Z is ditching college for 'more secure' trade jobs--but ... (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Jul 3 OP
'Unhappiness'??? OldBaldy1701E Jul 3 #1
Just for the record NJCher Jul 3 #2
'Practices' or delusions. I suppose both work. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Jul 3 #3
My statements NJCher Jul 3 #4
Well, that explains everything. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Jul 4 #8
I know my sample is limited and anecdotal... Hugin Jul 3 #5
It's OK to go that way, but plan on a variety of skills and careers bucolic_frolic Jul 3 #6
Someone has to pay for work done nitpicked Jul 3 #7

OldBaldy1701E

(8,339 posts)
1. 'Unhappiness'???
Thu Jul 3, 2025, 09:00 AM
Jul 3

This is a reason to be worried about taking a job in the trades as opposed to giving universities more money to get a career that has the same amount of uncertainty and 'unhappiness', as well as no better guarantee of employment security?



(I am doubtful that anyone is 'happy' these days, except the power elite that are driving this nation into a full fledged oligarchy- dictatorship. So, using that as an excuse to try and get more people to support the universities, which cannot guarantee anything any better than the trades that the writer is dissing, except crippling debt of course, is pretty funny.)

NJCher

(40,672 posts)
2. Just for the record
Thu Jul 3, 2025, 09:13 AM
Jul 3
anyone is 'happy' these days,

If you know anything about happiness, it is not dependent on exterior factors.

It’s actually tied to neuroscience. One’s individual thinking habits have everything to do with it.

It’s a matter of whether you want to invest your time and effort into practices that will cause conditions in your brain that are conducive to happiness. Sure, it’s “work.” It’s effort. So is a physical workout every day. Millions of people do that, too.

Anyone can be happy, even in this political environment.

NJCher

(40,672 posts)
4. My statements
Thu Jul 3, 2025, 09:23 AM
Jul 3

Are scientifically proven.

Yours are a product of “caveman brain.”

Note to others who have an open mind: EFT tapping .

Hugin

(36,553 posts)
5. I know my sample is limited and anecdotal...
Thu Jul 3, 2025, 09:28 AM
Jul 3

But, that report only sees part of the picture.

What I am seeing is blended or hybrid couples are common in many of the younger generations that are still participating in the working age group.

One partner is in what this article defines as the trades while the other is in a traditional white collar occupation. I believe they fall into this pattern because it provides some stability of income.

bucolic_frolic

(51,381 posts)
6. It's OK to go that way, but plan on a variety of skills and careers
Thu Jul 3, 2025, 09:35 AM
Jul 3

and try to tuck a 2 year degree along the way, and invest in retirement assets regularly even if unspectacularly.

nitpicked

(1,307 posts)
7. Someone has to pay for work done
Thu Jul 3, 2025, 10:17 AM
Jul 3

And if the "fat cat bureaucrats", government contractors, etc. are laid off, optional trades work may go by the wayside.

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