Gen Z Embraces Trades as the College-to-Career Pipeline Cracks

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 24 June 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today’s young workers are rethinking what makes a good job. A new Resume Builder survey finds that more than a third of Gen Z college grads are working in or plan to enter the trades or other skilled blue-collar jobs. Many say they’re seeking relief from rising student debt, and practical roles less affected by AI, including electrical work, plumbing, welding, veterinary care and EMT roles. We talk to workforce experts and members of Gen Z about the forces driving this shift, and what it means to build a future-proof career with your hands. Guests: Amanda Hoover, senior correspondent, Business Insider Iowayna Peña, director of workforce development, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO, Jewish Vocational Service Francisco Serrano, former educator turned tradesperson; graduate of CityBuild Academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Support for KQED Podcasts comes from Landmark College, commemorating 40 years of educating people who learn differently, with programs on campus and online for both students and professionals.
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0:45.9	From KQED.
0:47.1	Thank you, Ed. From KQBD in San Francisco, I'm Mina Kim, coming up on forum, how Gen Z is embracing
1:08.4	blue collar and skilled trade jobs.
1:10.9	The expectation for decades has been go to college, get a degree, and land a good-paying
1:15.7	white-collar job.
1:17.0	But many in Gen Z are questioning that.
1:19.5	With rising student debt, an uncertain job market, and concerns about automation from
1:24.2	AI, more young people are rethinking what a good career means. We look at
1:29.1	why the trades appear to offer Gen Z a safe haven, and how safe it really is. Join us after
1:36.1	this news. Welcome to Forum. I'm Nina Kim. More than half of Gen Z say a well-paying job is possible with only a high school diploma and skill building, according to a New America survey, and more than a third of
2:01.3	college grads are turning to a blue collar or skilled trade jobs, as a survey last month from
2:06.0	resume builder, things like electrical work, plumbing, welding, veterinary care, and EMT roles.
2:12.5	Is this you or someone you know? This hour we look at what's been driving the trend and hear
2:16.9	from people who've decided against an office job for a hands-on career.
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