A growing number of Gen Zers are choosing to drop out of college and attend vocational schools in hopes of earning higher salaries and avoiding student debt, data shows.
Young people who came of age during the pandemic said high tuition and the prospect of student debt had deterred them from attending four-year colleges.
Instead, they attend trade schools and are attracted to high-paying job opportunities and fulfilling jobs.
The National Student Clearinghouse recorded a 16 percent increase in enrollment at two-year schools with a “high focus on vocational programs” and a 2.6 percent increase in enrollment at community colleges in 2023, it reported Bloomberg.
“It’s a really smart route for kids who want to find something and aren’t excited about going to college,” said Tanner Burgess, 20, a graduate of the program. The Wall Street Journal.
Alezet Valerio, 18, who started on a construction site right after graduating high school, said he loves his job and finds it rewarding to build something.
Young people who came of age during the pandemic said they were discouraged from attending four-year colleges and instead attend trade schools.
On TikTok, a young electrician said he makes $200,000 a year and owns several houses.
“At the end of the day I feel good, I’m doing something physically and there’s a feeling of being done.”
There was a 23 percent increase in students studying construction trades in 2023 compared to the previous year, and a seven percent increase in HVAC and vehicle maintenance and repair programs.
Many, largely left to their own devices amid remote learning, felt they were not learning enough and the idea of four more years of school, or even two, held little appeal.
At the same time, the country’s student debt has skyrocketed. More than 43 million Americans collectively owe $1.3 trillion in student loan debt, and the average borrower owes $37,000, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Americans have lost confidence in the value of a college degree over the years, with many suggesting they are not sure the cost of an education is worth it.
A Gallup poll released in July 2023 found that the share of Americans who trusted higher education fell from 57 percent in 2015 to 36 percent.
Members of Generation Z are turning to the trades to make money, with many posting online about the high salaries they earn in fields like welding and plumbing.
On TikTok, a young electrician said he makes $200,000 a year and owns several houses.
‘We work more than 60 hours a week, 16 hours a day. With that comes double hours, overtime, benefits added to your retirement, union benefits. We stay busy all year round,” he stated.
‘I have some investment properties, a nice truck. I’m focusing on investment properties and making more money with the money I make here.’
The National Student Clearinghouse recorded a 16 percent increase in enrollment at two-year schools with a “high focus on vocational programs”
There was a 23 per cent increase in the number of students studying construction trades in 2023 compared to the previous year.
According to data from payroll services provider ADP, the median salary for new construction hires was $48,089 last year, compared to $39,520 for new professional services hires.
Software company Jobber surveyed 1,000 high school and college students in July 2023 and found that 56 percent of respondents believe “blue collar” jobs have more job security than “white collar” desk jobs when it comes to of AI.
Business opportunities were also important to respondents, with nearly two-thirds saying they wanted to start their own business at some point in their lives.
Alezet Valerio, 18, who started on a construction site right after graduating high school, told The Wall Street Journal that he loves his job and finds it rewarding to build something.
‘It’s not at all what I expected. “I’m building skyscrapers and building a career out of it,” she stated.
Colby Dell, 19, is attending trade school for auto repair and hopes to open his own mobile detailing business.
“I always thought it was a hobby. As I looked into these vocational schools, I realized it was a dream I could really pursue,” she stated.