Gen Z Joining the Skilled Trades

 

A fitting first for the Musings category: Gen Z is joining the skilled trades.

In case you missed it, the Wall Street Journal put out an article, “How Gen Z is Becoming the Toolbelt Generation,” on April 1st, 2024.

NOT an April Fools joke, either.

Since then, there have been articles popping up everywhere online. Here, here, here, and even Reddit has a subthread talking about it.

Why is this important?

Because, among other things, it signals some interesting cultural shifts. When major publications like the Wall Street Journal start to drop articles like this, you see more validity added to the industry.

So, there are 4 key takeaways I’d like to quickly go over in today’s musings.

 

1. The cracks in the narrative “You have to go to college to get a good job” are too big to ignore.

The cracks have grown to an astonishing 1.77 TRILLION dollar figure

 

Make no mistake, here: this isn’t due to some expansive recruitment campaign the construction industry has been pushing. The Wealthy Ironworker has long accused the industry of being lazy when it comes to recruitment, retention, and recognizing the difficulties it will face in the coming decades.

Instead, what’s really taking place is the construction industry is reaping ancillary benefits from others doing the work. In this case, it’s an entire generation – Gen Z – who see what Millenials have experienced. They’ve seen the data, largely promoted by others on social media. Videos that explain how much debt people have. Videos where Millenials believe they will die being economic slaves. People explaining how they can’t afford anything, how they aren’t using their degrees, and how they wish they could take it all back. Content that discusses the sheer opportunity from a supply and demand perspective.

Indeed, the cracks in the narrative are too big to ignore – and Gen Z has been paying attention, at least.

 

2. The real winners, of course, are the actual construction industry and Gen Z.

 

One of the articles I read quoted someone from the university system:

“’If you’re gonna go to a trade school, unless you’re gonna start a small business or something like that, then you are putting some limits, probably on your lifetime earnings,’ said Dick Startz, of the University of California.”

Yeah – I don’t know what he’s talking about. Most of the tradesmen I know make good money – and, for the most part, they make more than most of those in professional settings, too.

For example, this video here is of a woman talking about how she has a Master’s degree and her husband is in the trades. He will make 4 TIMES THE AMOUNT SHE DOES by the end of the year – AND HE DOESN’T HAVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

Millennials as a generation have been sacrificed on the altar of “you have to go to college to get a good job,” but at least Gen Z can rise from the ashes of this experiment. It’s a nice thing to see.

 

3. Trade schools – like the ones mentioned in the Wall Street Journal – are different from Registered Apprenticeship Programs

 

The rise in trade schools – where you pay to be taught – isn’t surprising, at least to me. People are ALWAYS looking to make money and capitalizing on the desperate need the construction industry has is one way people are doing it.

However, we would be wise not to confuse these trade schools with Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs).

Registered Apprenticeship Programs, widely considered the golden standard in apprenticeship models, are regulated by the Department of Labor, and – this is the point I really want to highlight – the apprentice DOES NOT PAY FOR IT.

Let me shout it from the rooftops: IN TRADE SCHOOLS, THE APPRENTICE PAYS – REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS DO NOT COST THE APPRENTICE ANYTHING.

In fact, apprentices are PAID to learn because they are working while completing their apprenticeship.

There is a difference – and it’s rather stark. The reason trade schools are gaining popularity is due in large part to their marketing, recruiting, and business. I’ve said for a long time now that the industry as a whole has been rather lazy when it comes to recruitment – and the rise of trade schools is an indicator. IF Registered Apprenticeship Programs (and I’m thinking of union apprenticeships, here) were more intentional, focused on recruiting, and thought outside the box – like my friend Brad Pierce and his local union – what would those programs look like?

What if apprenticeships and contractors came together to really sit down, talk about the systemic problems plaguing the industry, and how we could be partners to REALLY make some progress?

This highlights another difference between trade schools and registered apprenticeship programs: trade schools function more like feeder schools – whereas apprenticeship programs are long-term willing partners vested in your success.

One is more valuable than the other – I suspect you can guess which one.

 

4. This is a complex problem that will require far more intentionality to solve

This is what many in the industry have believed for decades: there is no problem here

 

The rise in trade schools – and articles published by the Wall Street Journal – are certainly helping the industry. But it will not be enough.

Not by a long shot.

We have to be very intentional about what we are doing, how we are recognizing problems, understanding as much of the complexity as possible, and eventually attempting to change the culture. We have some serious issues that are not just systemic, either – they are crippling.

It is my hope that more people will awaken to the problems, possibilities, opportunities, and begin to embrace the difficult tasks ahead. Only then will we begin to see measurable change for the good of all those involved.