GEN Z IS LOSING INTEREST IN EMAIL JOBS

MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE OPTING OUT OF TRADITIONAL COLLEGE AND OPTING INTO VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Of all the decisions that 18-year-olds can make about their future, one is becoming more popular: going to trade school.

The increasing appeal of skilled trade work is throwing a wrench in the enrollment levels of pricey four-year institutions as more young people opt out of traditional college and opt into vocational programs that offer good pay and stability, per the Wall Street Journal.

• The number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges increased 16% from 2022 to 2023, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse.
• The number of students studying construction at two-year undergraduate programs rose ~12% since 2021.

WHY?

Four-year schools used to seem like the most straightforward path to a high salary, but with their costs going up, they also lead to a lot of debt. Meanwhile, a shortage in skilled workers has driven up workers’ earnings: Median pay for construction workers rose more than 5% last year to $48,089, compared to $39,520 for new hires in professional services (like accountants and IT workers), according to payroll provider ADP.

Plus…software can’t repair a leak in your roof (yet). In a recent survey, the majority of young people said blue-collar jobs seemed more secure than white-collar ones amid developments in generative AI technology that could render some jobs obsolete.

By Cassandra Cassidy // morningbrew.com