Gen Zers Turn to Trades Careers for Better Opportunities

Trades jobs are becoming a more popular choice among young people. In a report issued by Resumé Builder, 42% of more than 1,400 Generation Z adults surveyed are currently working in or pursuing a skilled trades or "blue collar" job across several industries, including construction.

Of those pursuing trades careers, 37% say they have already earned a bachelor’s degree but feel that a job in the skilled trades provides better opportunities than a career that aligns more closely with their degree. Of those with degrees, 30% say they feel trades jobs have better long-term prospects, while a respective 19% and 16% say they were unable to find a job that suits their degree or they weren’t making enough money with their degree.

Among Gen Z workers without degrees, blue-collar work appears to offer a path to financial independence without student loans, the report found. They pointed to motivations such as earning income sooner (60%), avoiding student loan debt (40%), gaining better long-term security (36%), earning more without a degree (31%) and believing these jobs are less likely to be replaced by AI (28%).