The future is blue-collar, if you ask Gen Z.
Nearly half of young people are either learning a skilled trade or seriously considering one, according to Thumbtack’s third annual Future of the Skilled Trades Report, which surveyed 1,000 Americans ages 16 to 30. Some 30% of respondents said the rise of AI has made them more interested in the trades. More than 80% said it’s harder for young people to build a stable career than it was just a few years ago, and four in five believe AI will eliminate many traditional entry-level jobs. Against that backdrop, three in four said the trades may become one of the smartest career choices for their generation.
