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Losing faith in college degrees? Why Gen Z in the U.S. is training to become plumbers and electricians
Generation Z is not trusting the college degrees, and as a result, they are leaning towards blue-collar jobs such as welding, plumbing, and electrical work.A growing number of Gen Zers are losing faith in college degrees, instead of that, they want to become plumbers and electricians. Generation Z is showing a trend to lean towards the training-related welding, plumbing, and electrical work, which are considered blue-collar jobs. A new study has revealed that young adults are losing faith in college degrees. According to a study by Harris Poll on behalf of Intuit Credit Karma 23% of Americans are deciding to make a notable shift into blue-collar work. Although the percentage increased to 50 per cent because of the members of Gen Z who were born between 1997 and 2012, as specified in the New York Post. The survey, which is conducted among 2,091 individuals aged 18 and over, states that Generation Z is transforming into the toolbelt generation because of changing attitudes and rising college fees. A consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma, Courtney Alev, gave a statement that the promise of the four-year degree course is falling short as well as the cost of receiving a degree is increasing, so the young Americans are leaning towards blue-collar jobs. Approximately 77 per cent of respondents believe that it is outdated to trust that a college degree is important for a successful career, while half believe that college is worth the investment. Also Read: Heartstopper Season 3: Check out release date, time, where to watch, plot, cast and characters According to a study, 23 per cent of Gen Z find a positive impact in trade jobs rather than corporate jobs. 78% of Americans said that they have noticed a shift in the young adults to lean towards trade jobs. The Gusto data shared with CNBC Make It demonstrates that Gen Z workers are increasing in the field of electricians, plumbers, and mechanics, as per the New York Post. Young adults are shifting towards blue-collar jobs as they experience competitive markets related to jobs and prioritize job security. A study has found that 66% of Americans believe trade jobs contain more security than corporate jobs. The rise of artificial intelligence is restructuring the employment landscape; hence, many young adults are reassessing their career paths. Also Read : Found Season 2: See release date, time, where to watch, plot and cast Q1. What are considered blue-collar jobs? A1. welding, plumbing, and electrical work, which are considered blue-collar jobs. Q2. Why is Gen Z leaning towards blue-collar jobs? A2. A growing number of Gen Zers are losing faith in college degrees; instead of that, they want to become plumbers and electricians.
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Gen Z workers training to become plumbers, electricians as they lose...
A growing number of Gen Zers plan to pursue traditional blue-collar jobs in trades like welding, plumbing and electrical work as young adults lose faith in the value of a college degree, according to a new study. About 23% of Americans who are not currently working in the trade field say they plan to move into blue-collar work - but that percentage rises to 50% for members of Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, according to the study conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of Intuit Credit Karma. The survey of 2,091 people aged 18 and over found that Gen Z was becoming the "toolbelt generation" because of the shifting attitudes and soaring cost of a college education. "As the promise of a four-year degree falls short, and the cost to receive a college degree continues to climb, young Americans are making blue-collar jobs cool again," Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma, said in a statement. About 77% of respondents said it's "outdated" to assume that a college degree is necessary for a successful career, and only half said college is worth the investment. Some 23% of Gen Z view trade jobs more positively than corporate jobs, the study found. A whopping 78% of Americans say they have noticed a recent surge in young adults' interest in trade careers, according to the study. Skilled trade professions like electricians, plumbers and mechanics have seen an increase in the number of Gen Z workers joining these fields, according to Gusto data shared with CNBC Make It. "It's refreshing to see young adults taking notice and interest in these lines of work, especially considering how challenging it's been for new grads to find white-collar jobs," Alev said. The shift comes as young adults face competitive job markets and prioritize job security. With the rise of AI, 66% of Americans believe trade professionals have more job security than their corporate counterparts, the study found. Trade jobs are typically a more affordable path, too, which can be attractive to young students facing skyrocketing tuition costs. "Folks have really prioritized a college education as a path to the middle class and a path to a cushy office job," Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, who leads nonprofit Jewish Vocational Service and provides career training, told NPR in April. "Over the last 10 to 15 years, we are seeing a trend among young people opting out of universities," she added. "Just the crushing debt of college is becoming a barrier in and of itself." The average cost of college in the United States has more than doubled over the past 24 years to $38,270 per student per year, according to the Education Data Initiative. That high price tag can act as a barrier - but skilled trades can help "level the playing field," especially for people of color and those from less-privileged backgrounds, said Nitzan Pelman, the founder of job training platform Climb Hire. And increasing salaries in fields like welding, plumbing and machine tooling are making trade jobs even more attractive, Pelman told NPR. "There are a lot of vocational jobs out there that are pretty attractive -- HVAC repair and installation, electricians, solar panel installer -- there's so much demand for wind turbine installers who, in many cases, make more than $100,000 a year -- so there's a lot of demand for manual labor," Pelman said.
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The tides are slowly turning on white-collar work, and Gen Z leads the way
The shine of the fluorescent office lights has seemingly dimmed for the youngest working generation. For some time now, the four-year degree was pushed as a key to success for junior employees looking to nab a well-paying and stable job. But as the price tag for higher education soars and white-collar jobs become more volatile, it appears as if the tides have begun to shift. Enter the trade jobs. Most Americans (78%) have noticed a rising interest in trade careers from young adults, according to a Harris Poll survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults for Intuit Credit Karma. A large cohort of Americans (32%) are trade workers, and a growing number are looking to join the ranks. While roughly a quarter of Americans are planning to join the trade sector, that number grows to 50% when talking about Gen Z and millennials. They are pulled in by the prospect of work-life balance, job security, as well as job availability. And more than one in four Gen Zers have reportedly considered pursuing vocational training or trade school. It's surely no coincidence that many in these young generations also have faced the steepest cost of college, entered a thorny recession-marred job market, and witnessed a pandemic that exposed the pitfalls of the white-collar workforce. "Folks have really prioritized a college education as a path to the middle class and a path to a cushy office job," Lisa Countryman-Quiro, CEO of nonprofit Jewish Vocational Service, told NPR. "Over the last 10 to 15 years, we are seeing a trend among young people opting out of universities. Just the crushing debt of college is becoming a barrier in and of itself." The waning allure of white-collar gigs Indeed, younger generations are simply taking note of the market they're being thrust into; the white-collar workforce has gone through a rough patch lately, after all. Junior employees have seen the contract between employers and employees break, or at least fray, as office workers navigate rounds of layoffs and threats of AI from upper management. Those searching for a job have found the hiring process is often longer and more trying than in the past. Even the 2010's highly sought after tech jobs have dwindled in trendiness as Gen Z prioritizes consistency and stability over high paying but stressful jobs. It all means that 21% of Americans see trade jobs more favorably than corporate ones, with that figure rising to 31% among millennials, and 23% for Gen Zers. Meanwhile, blue-collar workers have seen some gains recently. Often backed by strong unions, which are less common in white-collar office work, this sector has held onto the fading pension while petitioning for historical contracts that include high-paying salaries and safeguards for better conditions. A whopping 66% of respondents reported to believe that trade employees have greater job security than white-collar workers, a sentiment shared equally by those in both professions. The workforce is contending with stereotypes regarding manufacturing jobs and the stigma associated with them. Almost half (49%) of Americans believe society views trade jobs more negatively than corporate ones, a belief held more highly by older generations. Though it seems as if Gen Z is pushing back against this notion, having seen the white-collar work fail to deliver on its promise for other generations. Even if these jobs were once an avenue of success for some, as decades past, many younger workers have found they need to job hop or quit to truly climb the corporate ladder. When it comes to college, America is divided when it comes to if there is higher return on investment on said pursuits or a trade school, according to Credit Karma's survey. More than half (52%) of Gen Zers don't see the value in a four-year degree, compared to 45% of the general respondents. Adding the weight of loans to the equation, many (64%) don't think the cost is simply worth it. Even so, 61% of employees believe a college degree leads to a well-paying gig. One thing seems to be clear, the pressured pipeline isn't the only one that holds weight. Most (77%) Americans think the idea that one needs to go to college to have a successful career is outdated. And as the blue-collar workforce ages, America faces a potential shortage of up to 2.5 million employees by 2020, projects McKinsey. But the current state of the white-collar workforce and college pipeline seems to be doing advertising for trade work all on its own. "It's not a crisis story like it was a few years ago," Michael Krupnicki, president of the American Welding Society told The Wall Street Journal in April. "The pendulum swing has happened hard and fast.
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A growing number of Gen Z Americans are opting for trade careers like plumbing and electrical work over traditional college degrees. This shift reflects changing perceptions about the value of higher education and the appeal of skilled trades.
In a surprising twist, Generation Z in the United States is increasingly turning away from traditional college paths and embracing careers in skilled trades such as plumbing and electrical work. This shift marks a significant change in how young Americans view education and career prospects in the current economic landscape 1.
The primary driver behind this trend appears to be a growing disillusionment with the promise of college degrees. Many Gen Z individuals are questioning the return on investment of a four-year college education, especially in light of rising tuition costs and student debt burdens. The allure of entering the workforce sooner and avoiding substantial student loans is becoming increasingly attractive to this generation 2.
Skilled trades are gaining popularity for several reasons:
This shift towards trades could have significant implications for the U.S. economy and education system. It may lead to a rebalancing of the workforce, potentially addressing shortages in critical infrastructure roles. However, it also raises questions about the future of higher education and its role in preparing young people for the job market.
In response to this trend, many trade schools and apprenticeship programs are adapting their recruitment strategies to appeal to Gen Z. They are emphasizing the technology aspects of modern trade work and the potential for entrepreneurship in these fields. Some companies are also offering tuition reimbursement and other incentives to attract young workers to the trades 1.
While it's too early to determine if this is a lasting trend, the shift towards trades among Gen Z is forcing a reevaluation of traditional career paths and the value of different forms of education. It may lead to a more diverse and balanced approach to post-secondary education and career training in the United States, potentially reshaping the labor market for years to come 3.
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