A recent Fortune headline summed up a growing trend: “Gen Z is ditching college and taking up 'secure’ trade jobs.” Across the United States, many members of the generation born between the late 1990s and early 2010s are rethinking the traditional four-year college route.
"Gen Z is ditching college for “more secure” trade jobs," per FORTUNE
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) August 12, 2025
They’re gravitating toward hands-on careers like plumbing, electrical work, welding, and other skilled trades. On the surface, it looks like a pragmatic pivot — but the reality is more complicated.
For decades, the default expectation for American high school graduates was to enroll in college, earn a degree, and then find a stable white-collar job. That narrative has been breaking down for years, and Gen Z is the first generation to fully embrace an alternative path. The primary driver? Cost.
Tuition at public four-year institutions has surged more than 140 percent in the past 20 years, far outpacing inflation. The average student loan borrower today leaves school with nearly $38,000 in debt. For a generation that came of age during the Great Recession, saw Millennials struggle under student loan burdens, and watched wages stagnate, the risk-reward calculation is changing.
Trade schools, on the other hand, require far less financial investment. Many programs last two years or less and cost a fraction of a traditional degree. Apprenticeships often pay while participants learn, providing a steady income and avoiding the need for loans altogether. For young people who want to start earning immediately, this is an attractive proposition.
The second major selling point is earnings. Contrary to outdated stereotypes, many trade jobs pay competitively — and in some cases, better than degree-required roles. Electricians, plumbers, and elevator repair technicians can all earn into the six-figure range with experience, especially in areas with high demand and labor shortages.
Fortune points out that Gen Z men, in particular, are flocking to such fields, drawn not only by the pay but by the tangible, hands-on nature of the work. In an era dominated by screens and remote work, there’s a certain satisfaction in building or fixing something real.
It’s apparent that most politicos, including on the right, have no idea what’s happening with Gen Z right now.
— Gabe Guidarini (@GabeGuidarini) August 11, 2025
Instead of addressing it, everyone’s acting like it’s still 2015.
When they finally wake up and notice what’s happening, it will already be too late.
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Another driver is job security — or at least the perception of it. With artificial intelligence and automation increasingly replacing or reshaping office jobs, many in Gen Z see skilled trades as more resistant to disruption. After all, you can’t outsource a plumber to an overseas call center, and a robot electrician is still years away from widespread deployment. Gen Zers are pivoting to what they view as “AI-resistant” careers, often choosing blue-collar roles over entry-level corporate positions that are vulnerable to automation or budget cuts.
This could be another reason why Gen Z is looking for secure jobs instead of pursuing a college degree:
Gen Z and millennials are increasingly turning to co-buying homes with friends or family—not for countercultural reasons, but as a practical response to high housing prices, student debt, and mortgage rates, per FORTUNE
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) July 16, 2025
While the pivot away from college makes sense for many, the “more secure” label deserves scrutiny. Recent labor market data shows that some skilled trades — including electricians, plumbers, and construction inspectors — have higher unemployment rates than certain white-collar jobs. The physical nature of the work also means careers can be cut short by injury or burnout.
Gen Z’s migration toward the trades is both a symptom and a solution. It’s a reaction to the inflated costs and questionable payoff of the college system, but it’s also an acknowledgment that the economy needs more hands-on workers. Electricians, welders, and mechanics are essential — and in some regions, in short supply.
In the end, Gen Z isn’t just “ditching” college; they’re rewriting the rules for what a successful career path looks like. Whether their choices will bring lasting stability or new challenges remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the American workforce is undergoing a generational shift that could reshape the economy for decades to come.
