While the traditional step after high school has been a college or four-year university, Gen Z is looking to shake things up, picking skilled trades over pricey degrees.
The trend is being observed by many, including TV personality and the king of getting your hands dirty, Mike Rowe, who became famous from his show “Dirty Jobs.”
Rowe spoke with NewsNation about the recent flip to skilled trades over college, saying that many are looking into options that wouldn’t leave them with decades worth of debt.
“We’re seeing lots of people go affirmatively toward trade schools, away from massive educational debt, onto a path that looks an awful lot like prosperity if you can master a skill that’s in demand,” Rowe shared.
But the shift goes further than just not wanting debt, as Rowe says, Gen Z is also not buying into the stigma that is often associated with blue-collar jobs.
Another reason for the shift is the job market. Rowe says that lots of blue-collar jobs have openings, while white-collar positions are becoming harder to find.
“For every five tradespeople who retire, two replace them. And it’s been that way for over a decade. I talk to people every day who are making close to $200,000 — plumbers, steamfitters, pipefitters, electricians,” Rowe said.
But Rowe isn’t just sharing his thoughts, as the data backs up his case, with the National Student Clearinghouse reporting that enrollment in vocational training is surging while at the same time dropping at community colleges and four-year institutions.
The shift in post-secondary options comes as Rowe says many are ignoring the traditional ideas about being in the “working class.”
“It’s a rung,” Rowe says. “It’s not a bottom rung. The stigmas and the stereotypes that keep people from exploring these careers have been a huge problem in our country. And they’re starting to erode. The idea that that diploma on your wall (isn’t) something other than a receipt is starting to take root.”