{"id":34266,"date":"2026-02-12T00:57:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T08:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/60-of-gen-zers-will-pursue-skilled-trade-work-this-year-survey\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T00:57:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T08:57:15","slug":"60-of-gen-zers-will-pursue-skilled-trade-work-this-year-survey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/60-of-gen-zers-will-pursue-skilled-trade-work-this-year-survey\/","title":{"rendered":"60% of Gen Zers will pursue skilled trade work this year: survey"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech\">\n    <button class=\"text-to-speech__button button\"><br \/>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"text-to-speech__button__icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?500116090725\" alt=\"-\"><br \/>\n        Listen to the article<br \/>\n        <span class=\"text-to-speech__button__audio-length\">4 min<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls\">\n        <audio controls=\"\" class=\"js-text-to-speech\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/text-to-speech.divecdn.com\/newspost\/811935\/2026-02-11_11.58.56\/gen-zers-pursue-skilled-trade-work-construction.wav\" type=\"audio\/mp3\"><\/source><\/audio><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls__text\">\n            This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\">feedback<\/a>.\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Young workers and even college graduates are looking at skilled trades more than white collar work this year in a search for stability and solid pay, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetemplates.com\/threat-of-ai-and-job-loss-pushing-6-in-10-gen-zers-toward-blue-collar-work\/?2026\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>a survey<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> by a resume-assistance company shows.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Six in 10 Gen Zers plan to pursue jobs in construction, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, building maintenance and manufacturing, among other trades, according to the survey of 1,250 respondents born between 1997 and 2012 by Resume Templates.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cMany young adults are questioning whether college debt is worth it and are instead exploring blue-collar careers that offer solid income, skill development, and long-term security,\u201d says Julia Toothacre, chief career strategist at Resume Templates.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The data is at odds with a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facilitiesdive.com\/news\/employers-emphasis-on-skilled-trades-lost-on-gen-z-harris-poll\/756463\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Harris poll<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> conducted last year that found fewer than 40% of Gen Zers interested in skilled trades as a career option, in part because they knew little about the opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cOnly 38% of Gen Z says skilled trades offer the best job opportunities today\u201d and \u201conly 36% strongly agree skilled trades offer a faster and more affordable path to a good career,\u201d that <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facilitiesdive.com\/news\/employers-emphasis-on-skilled-trades-lost-on-gen-z-harris-poll\/756463\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Harris Poll report<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> said when it was released last summer. That poll was based on 2,200 respondents.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For young workers who go into the trades, they should find opportunity as well as employers ready to train them, reports show.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>There will be openings for roughly 150,000 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/construction-and-extraction\/construction-laborers-and-helpers.htm\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>construction workers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/construction-and-extraction\/electricians.htm\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>80,000 electricians<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> each year for the next several years, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Employers \u2014 helped by <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanprogress.org\/article\/workforce-development-state-strategies-a-50-state-scan-of-best-practices-from-recent-action\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>state<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/newsroom\/releases\/eta\/eta20260106#\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>federal<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> resources as well as <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facilitiesdive.com\/news\/skilled-trades-initiatives-expand-as-demand-for-workers-is-projected-to-gro\/759123\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>private-industry money<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<span><span><span><span><span><span>\u2014 are stepping up with apprenticeship and other types of programs. A representative sample from last year shows a range of programs companies are offering:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Schneider Electric invested $100,000 in The SkillPointe Foundation to help it make <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.automation.com\/en-us\/articles\/august-2025\/skillpointe-foundation-schneider-electric\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>sizable grants<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> available to people seeking training in building energy management and other high-demand building-related fields.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>The Home Depot Foundation <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/corporate.homedepot.com\/news\/foundation-and-community\/home-depot-foundation-invests-10-million-skilled-trades-training\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>set aside $10 million<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> to broaden access to skilled trades training, including through a $1 million partnership with Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of America.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>HVAC manufacturer Carrier Global Corp. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.corporate.carrier.com\/news\/news-articles\/202505_carrier-announces-additional-1-billion-investment-us-manufacturing-footprint-advanced-cuttingedge-rd-workforce-expansion.html#:~:text=The%20program%20aims%20to%20hire,high%2Dperformance%20climate%20solutions%20systems.\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>announced<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> a program to hire 1,000 U.S. service technicians and train more than 100,000 climate solutions technicians.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In their hunt for workers, business competitors are joining forces to get information out to younger workers and offer training.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cWhy pretend that the problem that Lowe\u2019s is facing is so unique from the problem that Home Depot is facing?\u201d Dane Linn, senior vice president of corporate initiatives for the Business Roundtable, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facilitiesdive.com\/news\/countrys-biggest-companies-collaborate-skilled-trades-gap-Business-Roundtable\/757863\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>said last year<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> when his organization launched a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessroundtable.org\/corporate-initiatives#skilled-trades-initiative\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>skilled-trades workforce initiative<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The initiative brings together about 150 companies to collaborate on training in four industries: building maintenance, construction, energy solutions and manufacturing.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cAn electrician is an electrician,\u201d said Linn. \u201cThey all go through the same training. So what does that look like to train individuals at scale? And I think that\u2019s what we\u2019re solving for.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Based on its survey findings, Resume Templates says Gen Zers are looking to the trades mainly for job security, skill fit and earnings potential. \u201cThis data suggests Gen Z\u2019s interest in the trades is rooted more in practical outcomes like stability, fit, and pay than in purely personal preference,\u201d the survey report says.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/05\/28\/ai-jobs-white-collar-unemployment-anthropic#:~:text=AI%20could%20wipe%20out%20half,%2C%20especially%20entry%2Dlevel%20gigs.\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>The threat<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> AI is posing to white collar employment might be one of the reasons half of Gen Zers with a college degree are also planning to pursue opportunities in the trades, according to the survey.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cUnlike many corporate jobs, [trade jobs are] not likely to be replaced by AI,\u201d Toothacre said in the report. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/gen-zers-pursue-skilled-trade-work-construction\/811935\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This article was originally posted at Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Listen to the article 4 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Young &#8230; <a title=\"60% of Gen Zers will pursue skilled trade work this year: survey\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/60-of-gen-zers-will-pursue-skilled-trade-work-this-year-survey\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about 60% of Gen Zers will pursue skilled trade work this year: survey\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[457],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-construction-dive","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34266"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34266\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}