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Blake, Wm. Sealing the Stone and Setting a Watch. 1780.

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Gen Z is increasingly opting for skilled trades over college, driven by higher wages, technological advancements, and skepticism about the value of a college education. These roles include plumbers, electricians, and welders.

Vocational program enrollments surged by 16% last year, with construction trades seeing a 23% increase. Rising labor costs due to a skilled worker shortage have also pushed median pay for new construction hires to $48,089, outpacing many professional service jobs.

The demand for trade apprenticeships is also growing, with one survey indicating that 75% of young people are interested in vocational schools offering paid training.

One 20-year-old welder: “I thought it was cool because it had a lot of fire.”