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While families increasingly recognize the instability of traditional white-collar careers and the long-term potential of the trades, old perceptions and lack of awareness are keeping Gen Z locked into the college-first mindset, according to Jobber’s The Annual Blue Collar Report: Gen Z and the Blue Collar Revolution report.
"We're at a crossroads," says Sam Pillar, CEO and co-founder of Jobber. "Gen Z is entering the workforce at a time of rising costs, shrinking job security, and rapid automation. Yet despite these challenges, too many are still defaulting to college. The trades represent a resilient, entrepreneurial path forward, and it's time we start treating them as first-choice careers, not fallback options."
Key Takeaways
- Only 16 percent of Gen Z parents believe a degree guarantees long-term job security, yet 75 percent of Gen Z still plan to pursue one. The Education Data Initiative puts the true cost of a bachelor's degree at more than $500,000 when factoring in loans and lost income. At the same time, layoffs in tech and finance are accelerating, while demand for skilled trades continues to grow well above the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- AI is accelerating the need for careers that are harder to automate, and families are taking notice: 72 percent of parents say they've discussed automation's impact with their children; 7 percent of Gen Z report that choosing a career resistant to automation is a top priority; parents overwhelmingly point to trades as safer than digital roles, stating carpenters (56 percent), plumbers (54 percent), and electricians (51 percent) as highly AI-resilient, compared to just 18 percent for software developers and 11 percent for accountants.
- 73 percent of parents agree that trade entrepreneurs enjoy greater long-term security than tech employees, but only 7 percent of parents would prefer their child pursue a vocational path. 71 percent of Gen Z and 63 percent of parents still see trade school as less favorable than university, proof that stigma remains a major barrier.
- High school guidance is still pushing students toward college. 76 percent of Gen Z say university was actively promoted, while only 31 percent remember trade school being encouraged. 59 percent of Gen Z who didn't apply to an apprenticeship program said it was because they didn't have enough information.
