Enrollment Trends in Vocational and Technical Schools

Trade school enrollment is climbing (+4.9% since 2020), while university enrollment has slightly declined (-0.6% since 2020). Trade school growth is also expected to outpace the broader higher education market through 2030. It appears that economic concerns and skepticism about the value of a degree are driving this shift. For Gen Z, often referred to as the toolbelt generation, direct pathways to financial stability are appealing. This shift goes beyond Gen Z as 83% of young adults ages 18-30 (even those with degrees) believe learning a skilled trade can lead to better economic security. Colleges and universities cannot ignore this signal of change. They must explore whether they are ensuring that and emphasizing how traditional degrees equip students with skills relevant for employment. #TradeSchools #Employability #HigherEducation #GenZ https://lnkd.in/eAMf_Qws

The college dream is dying. Gen Z students are turning down degrees to start blue-collar businesses. As someone who started one myself … Here’s my take on the situation: -- First, let's look at the numbers: • Only 36% of Americans have confidence in higher education (down from 57% in 2015). • Only 22% say college is worth the debt • Gen Z unemployment for recent grads has jumped to 5.8% in early 2025. The writing is on the wall … -- Meanwhile, AI is aggressively disrupting most entry-level white-collar jobs. In fact, 62% of college seniors are worried AI will affect their career prospects. But here's the thing … You can't automate a leaky faucet, an overgrown yard, or an HVAC install. -- The demand side tells a better story. America’s #1 fastest-growing job right now? → Wind turbine technician. Construction, plumbing, and electrical work are all growing faster than the 4% average. -- This is the real game changer: Social media gave Gen Z a front-row seat to reality. Every day, they're seeing: • Electricians make $60k+ with no student debt • Kids building 6-figure landscaping businesses • Consultants getting laid off with $100k in loans -- Plus, Gen Z doesn't need college to learn the necessary business systems. They grew up digital-first. Using AI to write customer emails, automate schedules, and send invoices is a walk in the park for them. They were literally raised with the ability to run circles around traditional contractors. -- The notion that college is required to succeed in the real world is fading fast. Vocational programs are growing 20% faster than other associate degrees. The shift is accelerating. Here's my final prediction: -- The next wave of millionaires will come from blue-collar. Not because they got lucky … But because they combined essential services with modern, efficient systems. They chose cash flow over debt. They picked skills over credentials. -- If you're thinking about skipping college for trades … You're not crazy (you're early). And if you want to see more insights like these on why blue collar is the future … Follow me → Zach Williams

Is Gen Z the new 'toolbelt generation'? 🔧💼 I read a recent report from ADP that was showing Gen Z is leaning back into blue-collar work in unprecedented numbers. Between rising college costs and the demand for skilled trades, Gen Z is seeing an opportunity for stable, well-paying jobs without the traditional college debt burden. As AI and automation grow, job security concerns are starting to shift their focus and many Gen Z workers are now seeking roles that offer long-term growth, stability, and purpose. The stats are proving this as well with enrollment in vocational schools increasing by 4.6 percent from 2019 to 2024 and the number of bachelor's degrees falling by 3.6 percent. Are you seeing these trends show up yet? Is this here to last?

Gen Z – the “toolbelt generation.” It’s graduation time so this is a timely topic on an important shift benefiting the long-term health of the U.S. #workforce. Among the many choices 18-year-olds face about their futures, the option of attending trade school is gaining popularity. The rising appeal of #skilledtrades is impacting enrollment at expensive four-year colleges as more young people choose vocational programs that offer good pay and stability. This The Wall Street Journal deep dive penned by Te-Ping Chen tells the story well. If the article is behind a paywall or if you want the CliffNotes: Headline: “Rising pay and new technologies in fields from welding to machine tooling are giving trade professions a face-lift, helping them shed the image of being dirty, low-end work. Growing skepticism about the return on a college education, the cost of which has soared in recent decades, is adding to their shine.” Here is a memorable story line about a mother and son interviewed that I think gets to the heart of a generational predisposition on the topic: 🎓 After reading up on the skilled trades, Tanner Burgess, 20, settled on welding. “I thought it was cool because it had a lot of fire,” who’s now helping install pipes for a new hospital in San Diego. A secure job track and the prospect of steadily growing earnings didn’t hurt either. After five years at the profession, he says he expects to be making a six-figure annual income, based on what he sees others around him making. 💡 “I’ll be honest, it took me a little bit mentally to get on board,” says Burgess’s mother, Lisa Hopkins, who studied drama and art history before obtaining an MBA. She never had much exposure to the trades, but she says she’s thrilled her son has found something he loves with good prospects: “He’s already thinking, ‘I want to buy my first house by the time I’m 24. I don’t have any debt, I’m off to the races.’”  Four-year colleges were once seen as the best route to a high salary, but with escalating costs, they can lead to significant debt. Meanwhile, a shortage of skilled workers has driven up wages. Job security has emerged as one of the leading factors in determining a career post Covid when people began to realize the trades are a “life-sustaining career path.” As other businesses shut down then, the skilled trades revealed themselves as reliable, well-paying paths that weren’t going away. And one more note for the #manufacturing companies out there: In a 2023 @Jobber survey of high school and college students, 75% said they would be interested in vocational schools offering paid, on-the-job training. Investment here will help build your talent pipeline in significant ways as the workforce contracts over the next couple decades. A great read. Full Tilt Consulting #fulltiltengage #fulltiltexec #jobtrends #workforcestrategy