Gen Z survey: 60% want into the trades

Gen Zers plan to pursue work in the trades this year, a new survey says. 

What’s happening: Resume Templates, a resume-assistance company, recently surveyed 1,250 respondents aged 18 to 28, and found that 60 percent are very or somewhat likely to pursue jobs in construction, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and related blue-collar trades in 2026. 

• Among those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, about 50 percent said they’re likely to pursue a trade this year, compared to 25 percent of respondents who thought they would when they graduated high school.

What they’re saying: “Many young adults are questioning whether college debt is worth it and are instead exploring blue-collar careers that offer solid income, skill development, and long-term security,” Julia Toothacre, Resume Template’s Chief Career Strategist, said in a statement. 

• “As older generations retire, these roles will open up, and unlike many corporate jobs, they’re not likely to be replaced by AI,” she added. 

The big picture: Gen Z has been increasingly drawn to the trades, a trend that could help fill the roughly 40,000 job openings for HVAC techs and installers projected each year until 2032. 

• In 2022, about 214,000 16 to 24-year-olds were enrolled in apprenticeship programs across the U.S., more than double the amount from the decade prior.  

Go deeper: As for which specific trades interested respondents, construction topped the list (21 percent), followed by electrical work (10 percent), and manufacturing or production (9 percent), while HVAC and plumbing tied, each nabbing seven percent.