Jim Farley is right about Gen Z and blue-collar work. We see firsthand how the industry is failing them

jf (Credit: courtesy of Ford Motor Co.)

Ford CEO Jim Farley recently said “the air we breathe is a four-year degree.” In other words, college is the default path we steer every kid toward. He’s right, and he deserves credit for pushing back on it. Ford has even commissioned Ad Council research on how students, parents, and teachers see the trades.

The Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades, which Ford launched with Google, BlackRock, and Carhartt, just released a detailed new look at what the country needs. The headline most outlets ran with is that employers will have to fill about 1.7 million skilled trades openings every year through 2035. Training programs are preparing roughly 55 people for every 100 of those jobs.