60% of Gen Z Will Pursue Skilled Trade Work This Year

Six in 10 Generation Z workers plan to pursue skilled trade careers in 2026, driven by competitive pay, job security, and a shift away from traditional four-year college paths—a trend that's reshaping workforce development and employer recruiting strategies.

This marks a significant reversal from the "college-for-everyone" mindset of prior generations, as Gen Z increasingly values hands-on work, clear career progression, and earning while learning through apprenticeships and vocational training programs.

For employers, this means rethinking talent pipelines: partnering with trade schools, offering apprenticeship programs, and communicating the career growth potential in roles that don't require a bachelor's degree. Internal comms can play a key role in destigmatizing trades and highlighting success stories.