Why Is Gen Z Skipping College For Trade Jobs?

Key Takeaways

• Trade school costs $5,000–$25,000 total; the average college graduate carries $28,244 in student debt
• Electrician apprenticeships pay you from day one—no tuition required
• New construction workers out-earned new office workers for the fourth consecutive year in 2024
• Electrician jobs are expected to add around 80,000 openings per year
• The path from apprentice to licensed journeyman takes 4–5 years with a clear progression at every step

Two million fewer students are enrolled in traditional four-year universities compared to 2011, and at the same time, vocational school enrollment jumped 16% since 2020—the largest increase since the National Student Clearinghouse started tracking this data. This shift has even led to the naming of Gen Z as the "toolbelt generation."

Gen Z is walking away from college degrees and straight into electrician apprenticeships, plumbing programs, welding certifications, and HVAC training. This isn't just a trend or a moment. It's a complete rethinking of what career success looks like when you're staring down six figures of student debt before you even start working.

College Stopped Making Financial Sense for Gen Z

A four-year public college costs $110,000 total, and private universities run $225,000 or more. The average college cost has doubled in the 21st century, according to the Education Data Initiative, and Gen Z watched their millennial siblings and Gen X parents struggle to pay it back.

The average college graduate walks away with $28,244 in student loan debt, according to the Education Data Initiative. Some owe $80,000 or more. That debt takes decades to repay, and it starts accumulating interest the moment you graduate.

Trade school tells a different story. Total cost ranges from $5,000 to $25,000. Completion time is months to 2 years, not 4+ years. Many apprenticeships are paid, so you earn while you learn, and you graduate with zero student debt.

A 19-year-old welder can earn $57,000 per year right out of a certification program. Compare that to a 22-year-old college graduate with $80,000 in debt and no clear job prospects, and the math becomes obvious.

Skilled Trades Allow You To Earn While You Learn

The apprenticeship model is the biggest financial advantage trades have over college. You work a full shift during the day, attend classes a few evenings per week, and your employer often covers the training costs.

Compare that to college, where you pay tuition for four years and hope the job market cooperates when you graduate.

What apprenticeships offer:

• A paycheck from your first week
• Real job experience instead of just classroom theory
• Health and retirement benefits through union programs
• A clear path from apprentice to journeyman to master electrician
• No debt when you finish

A 19-year-old in an electrician apprenticeship can earn $35,000 to $40,000 in year one. By the time a college student graduates, that same electrician is already four years into a career and earning $45,000 to $55,000—with no student loans.

The Job Market Is Wide Open For The Trades

There are currently 500,000 open manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Baby boomers are retiring in large numbers, and there aren't enough skilled workers coming up behind them to fill the gap.

The construction industry alone needs 349,000 workers in 2026, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. Electrician jobs rank among the top 20 fastest-growing occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with around 80,000 new openings expected each year.

That kind of demand means that Gen Z has job security for years to come. When contractors are competing to hire, workers have leverage—on wages, hours, and working conditions.

Electrician Apprenticeships Offer a Clear Path

Of all the trades, electrical work stands out for a few reasons.

Electric vehicle infrastructure is expanding fast, creating new demand for licensed electricians. Solar installation is growing. Commercial construction is picking up across Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina.

As a well-established industry that is growing, you can rest assured that your career path is clear and manageable. Complete a 4-5 year apprenticeship, pass your journeyman exam, and you can work independently. From there, you can test for master electrician status, specialize in industrial or commercial work, or start your own contracting business.

The median electrician salary is $62,350, but experienced electricians in high-demand markets regularly earn $80,000 to $100,000 or more.

Skilled Trades Also Has Challenges

Trade work isn't a perfect career for everyone. The physical demands add up over time—long hours, outdoor job sites, and hands-on labor take a toll that desk work doesn't.

Electrical work also depends on construction cycles. When building slows, work can slow with it. Staying licensed and competitive requires ongoing education as codes and technologies change.

But these trade-offs exist in every career. What's different is that electricians start earning immediately, carry no student debt, and build skills that can't be outsourced or automated. For a lot of young workers, that trade-off is worth making.

Start Your Career as an Electrician

If you're thinking about becoming an electrician, the first step is finding an apprenticeship program in your area.

Contact your local IBEW hall or IEC (Independent Electrical Contractors) chapter to ask about upcoming openings. Look into community college electrical programs if you want classroom preparation before applying. These programs fill up fast and often only accept applications once or twice a year, so applying early matters.

You don't need any prior electrical experience to apply. You need a high school diploma or GED, reliable transportation, and the ability to pass a basic math and reading test.

The sooner you apply, the sooner you start earning.