Jobber’s Post

⚡ 🔨 Embracing A New Path: Gen Z's Shift To The Trades 🔨 ⚡ According to a recent article from The Wall Street Journal, there's a notable surge in young people opting for trade jobs like plumbing and welding over traditional white-collar careers. In a departure from Millennials' career preferences, Gen Z is increasingly drawn to hands-on trades like plumbing, welding, and electrical work. Fueled by a combination of factors such as job stability, less student loan debt, earning potential, and the appeal of tangible skills - young people are bypassing the traditional path of college education. This shift towards trades could have far-reaching implications for the labor market. 🔥 Reshaping Perceptions of Success: The growing interest in trade jobs among Gen Z challenges the traditional notion of success tied to obtaining a college degree. By embracing vocational training and pursuing careers in trades, young people are redefining what it means to thrive in today's economy. 👷♂️ Meeting the Demand for Skilled Labor: With industries like construction and manufacturing facing a shortage of skilled workers, Gen Z's embrace of trades comes as a welcome solution to a pressing problem. By equipping themselves with practical skills, young people are not only securing stable careers for themselves but also filling crucial gaps in the labor market. This shift underscores the vital role of trades in sustaining essential sectors and driving economic growth. #SkilledTrades #GenZ #CareerShift #LinkedInDiscussion

This article explains the shift in Gen Z to trade jobs in a world that in centered around the importance of a college education. It is interesting to see this shift in a culture that is so invested in technology and media have so many young people find themselves in a profession that is strictly dependent on real world necessities. https://lnkd.in/df7ptnYi

The skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers as enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year to its highest level since tracking such data began in 2018. The Wall Street Journal article below explores the factors impacting the increase and how a shortage of skilled tradespeople and diversion from the traditional college path have affected the shift. #labor #GenZ

The skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers as enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year to its highest level since tracking such data began in 2018. The Wall Street Journal article below explores the factors impacting the increase and how a shortage of skilled tradespeople and diversion from the traditional college path have affected the shift. #labor #GenZ

The skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers as enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year to its highest level since tracking such data began in 2018. The Wall Street Journal article below explores the factors impacting the increase and how a shortage of skilled tradespeople and diversion from the traditional college path have affected the shift. #labor #GenZ

This is great for America. Gen Z is taking up vocational education and careers in skilled trades. "Enrollment in vocational training programs is surging as overall enrollment in community colleges and four-year institutions has fallen. The number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level since the National Student Clearinghouse began tracking such data in 2018." Many of those students are getting on the job training as apprentices (like we offer at Whelan Machine & Tool ): "In a survey of high school and college-age people ... last year, 75% said they would be interested in vocational schools offering paid, on-the-job training." Median pay for new hires in trades has exceeded both the professional services and information sectors for the past 4 years in row. In addition to higher pay, those workers have higher levels of overall job satisfaction. "A survey last year of skilled workers ... found that 94% would encourage their own kids or family members to pursue similar occupations." Now would be the time for our Government to create incentives like workforce credits for hiring & training those new workers... #defenseindustry #freedomsforge https://lnkd.in/eipgfNCf  

Exciting shift in career perceptions! The article sheds light on the rising appreciation for skilled trade jobs among young people, challenging the conventional emphasis on college education as the sole route to success. It's time we recognize and promote diverse career pathways that cater to individual talents and interests. https://lnkd.in/efQSRnuE

Listen, I'm all-in on the increase in young people choosing a career in the trades. I'm encouraging my nephew in this pursuit right now. But headlines like this one irk me: https://lnkd.in/ehVb7vE6 One of the three examples the article cites went to a technical school and got an associate degree! Guess what, folks? That's COLLEGE! And it can help a lot of young people get a great start in the trades. Did you know that, in the state of Kentucky at least, time spent enrolled in postsecondary technical educational programs often counts as years of work experience toward earning a journeyman's license in that trade? And that thanks to programs like the Kentucky Work Ready Scholarship, that education often comes at no or low cost? In other words, the opportunity cost of starting a trades career at a community college or technical school versus going to work right out of high school can be relatively low. College and trade careers don't have to be an "either/or" choice. They can be, and in many cases should be, a "both/and" proposition. Community colleges and technical schools are an awesome way to get started in the trades. Encourage young people to explore ALL their options out of high school and find what works best for them.

The skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers as enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year to its highest level since tracking such data began in 2018. The Wall Street Journal article below explores the factors impacting the increase and how a shortage of skilled tradespeople and diversion from the traditional college path have affected the shift. #labor #GenZ

The skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers as enrollment in vocational training programs is surging, rising 16% last year to its highest level since tracking such data began in 2018. The Wall Street Journal article below explores the factors impacting the increase and how a shortage of skilled tradespeople and diversion from the traditional college path have affected the shift. #labor #GenZ