Some media outlets within the last several months have noted this trend, such as The Wall Street Journal to NPR have referred to Gen-Z as “the toolbelt generation.” The WinePress reported this trend in April.
In an recently written opinion piece for USA Today, Marco Zappacosta, CEO and co-founder of Thumbtack, a marketplace that connects homeowners with construction contractors and tradesmen, emphasized this paradigm shift in citing a survey conducted his company.
The survey ‘captured data from 1,000 U.S. adults aged 18-30 and 800+ US adults employed in the skilled trades,’ a press release says, and adds that the ‘findings highlight a pathway problem as societal pressure, parental pressure and a lack of access to trade education continues to push young adults to higher education.’
Part of the report states (emphasis theirs):
More good news: nearly half of young adults — 47 percent — are interested in pursuing a career in the trades. And why not? These jobs are a great fit for the priorities of a generation that values independence, self-employment, and flexibility.
Asked about the advantages of a skilled trade over a desk job, over 80 percent of young adults mentioned each of the following:
- A more flexible schedule
- A faster educational program
- A less expensive education and/or less debt
- Quicker entry into the workforce
- The ability to be your own boss
The financial security of the skilled trades is especially appealing — it’s the most important factor in career choice for 70 percent of young adults, far beyond any other consideration. Beyond money, young adults want jobs they can be proud of. In our survey, only medicine commanded respect from more respondents than the skilled trades, and not by much — 77 percent to 73 percent.
College can be the right choice for a lot of high school graduates, but is it really the only choice? That’s the message kids have been getting for a while from parents, guidance counselors, and society as a whole. In our survey of young adults:
- 82 percent reported that kids and teens are often incorrectly told that college is the only way to become successful in life, including 90 percent of respondents who actually went to college.
- 59 percent had felt pressure to attend a 4-year college or university, most often from family (56 percent) or general societal expectations (51 percent).
As part of this college-or-bust mindset, shop class — a vital first taste of the trades for countless pros — is quickly becoming a thing of the past.
- Nearly one third (32 percent) of young adults weren’t offered shop classes in high school.
- Of those who did get to take shop, 86 percent say it was one of their favorite classes.
- According to another study, the number of vocational credits earned by high school students dropped by 14 percent between 1990 and 2009.
And about that college path kids have been pushed onto…
- 65 percent of young adults who graduated from college have had regrets about that investment.
- 83 percent — including 90 percent of respondents with college degrees — feel that learning a skilled trade can be a better pathway to economic security than college.
There’s never been a better time to enter the trades, and as a generation shaped by the pandemic and gig economy, Gen Z are uniquely suited to a profession that offers flexibility and independence. With a lower barrier to entry than in the past and incredible demand for people to fill these roles, expertise in the trades is a future-proof career.
Zappacosta said
Zappacosta also wrote in his piece for USA Today: ‘ChatGPT can do a lot of things, but it can’t help homeowners hang drywall for an addition, rewire a garage for an electric car, paint the nursery for a new baby or unclog the kitchen sink in time for Thanksgiving dinner.’
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
Once again, this report dispels the narrative that Gen-Z as a collective is “lazy.” This is simply an incorrect and snide mockery from prissy, spoiled washouts who are out of touch and willfully ignorant to what is happening in society and the world they live in. Many Gen-Z’ers are breaking the mold of the rat race of society and seeing the folly and greed that have destroyed this country, inherited from generations before them.
As I have discussed many times before, Gen-Z is being forced to navigate a minefield in the midst of a collapsing empire, and all that that entails, as they quickly are finding out that everything they are told was a lie, and many are left feeling desperately hopeless and deeply depressed. This perceived “laziness” is the fruit and amalgamation of generations of iniquity, wickedness and greed being exported to the current generations, and Gen-Z is checking out.
Ecclesiastes 5:11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? [12] The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. [13] There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. [14] But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
Take notice of verse 14 in context to current events today
More Gen-Z’ers are quickly realizing that college is a total scam, and now some of them, thankfully, are breaking the mold and learning how to do more practical skills. I touched on this in my report, “The Collapse Of Credentialism And Higher Academic Prestige, And Appeal To Authority.” People are finally realizing that getting a 4-year degree at some school someplace is a scam in the strong majority of cases, and the debts take forever to payoff, and most of them don’t even land them the job that they got their degree for. Plus, you have to consider the schools and universities have become so ultra-progressive at this point the younger folks are sick of it.
I could say a whole lot more of the economics and societal divide that’s been created, but I’ll save that rant for another day.
[10] And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; [11] And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; [12] That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Hey, this is great news!
Saw a tornado hit in Indiana, you ok brother?
There was? Didn’t hear about one. But I’m good lol. Sunny skies all day today.
GOOD!!! SMART!!!
OK, I’m old enough to speak on this subject. When I was in High School, blue collar work was highly discouraged and unfairly maligned. As time has revealed, my fellow classmates and friends that went the blue collar route are totally debt free, (including their home), saved money for retirement, raised several children, etc., etc. Good, good people that raised more good people.
The classmates that went for professional degrees are now so deep in debt, they’ll never get out even they could work another 50 years, and they’ve been working for forty already!
It’s patently clear who the truly smart ones are – just sayin’ . . .
Bottom line, don’t let another tell you how to run your own life. Follow your heart. God gives you gifts and talents to share with others.
Though I went university for 2 college degrees 1 master’s degree and 1 bachelor’s degree, at least I don’t have student loan debt (never took out any, though almost did for my bachelor’s)
I have a question about schooling and my path in life as a young man. To preface, I’m pretty sure God is going to judge America, and those of us that are left will be tasked to rebuild society (Matthew 5:5 KJV).
That being said, in preparation for what’s coming (Great Depression, WW Three, Famine ETC.) would it be better to pursue various trades/public service skills such as Carpentry, Paramedic, Police, agriculture, and automotive, getting associates in community colleges, a place that is overlooked in favor of prestigious universities (1 Corinthians 1:27) (proverbs 23:23) (Ecclesiastes 9:16). Or would it be better to pursue something like a modern language/ international relations in a higher university- I can attain knowledge & experience in 4-5 different occupations in 4 years, or I can spend 4 years learning one thing (getting a bachelors). I’m going to be learning Chinese for witnessing purposes, but the education for it is better in university compared to community college.
The reason why I’m even suggesting the latter is that young guys like me (I’m 21) will be probably be drafted for the next war, and a way people dodged the vietnam draft was by doing higher education. Additionally, I can attend the ROTC program (not to the point inheriting a commitment), and learn how to fight in case Russians/Chinese/domestic invade on our soil (psalms 144:1). Worst case scenario, I am pitted with the choice of either enlisting or commissioning as an officer because the war is already here, but if I become an officer, I’ll at least have better rations and treatment than a regular, and a little bit more important than being canon fodder in the front lines. However, I will not get into debt, I refuse to be a servant to the lender, all the money will be coming from what I’ve worked.
As for the first choice, the reasons why I’m spreading out time in various occupations is because I don’t know for sure what I’ll encounter in the future, I’ll at least have confidence and well-rounded knowledge for most situations. Ex: neighbor needs house to be built? I can do that. Somebody is hurt? I can care for them. Somebody is making trouble in the community? Not a problem. Lastly, I can teach those who survive these skills, and they’ll be able take care of their communities (there’s going to be some witnessing opportunities here).
It’s about $6000 to learn 4 different occupations in 4 years ($1500 annual tuition*4 years @ community). Or $30,000 for 2 years in university, getting a bachelors ( I heard that degree opens more opportunities). Ecclesiastes 10:19.
I sound pretty asinine,and truth be told, I’m worried about what the future holds. A lot can change in a span of 1 year, we can be eating in restaurants to eating our own, like the donner party. If I was give 4-5 years to prepare this temple (myself) to prepare for a great flood (figuratively), which choice would be a better stewardship of my time here on earth? Proverbs 11:14 KJV. Or is there another option that i haven’t thought about? Matthew 7:14