Trade jobs are having a moment. Touted as the smarter, safer alternative to “irrelevant” overpriced degrees and entry-level white-collar jobs (which tech CEOs warn could soon be swallowed by AI), traditional manual work like welding, plumbing, and carpentry is experiencing a resurgence among Gen Z.
Around 78% of Americans say they’ve noticed a spike in young people turning to jobs like carpentry, electrical work, and welding, according to a 2024 Harris Poll for Intuit Credit Karma. They’re not wrong. Trade school enrollment really has been surging post-pandemic, even outpacing university enrollment.
