In the Arkansas Delta town of Jonesboro, 23-year-old LaDonna Glass recently completed a shift as an electrician apprentice at a veterinary school, marking a path that reflects a broader shift among Generation Z students reassessing the value of traditional college education. Once a top high school student with expectations to attend university, Glass opted to leave Mississippi State University after one year, choosing instead to pursue a four-year apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). She now earns around $21 per hour while working toward full licensure, with average annual salaries for union electricians nearing $90,000.

Glass’s story exemplifies a growing trend among young Americans who are reconsidering college amid rising tuition costs, a challenging early-career labor market, and concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on white-collar jobs. National data show that while over 60% of high school graduates still matriculate directly to four-year colleges, vocational and trade school enrollment at two-year institutions rose nearly 20% from 2020 to 2025. Apprenticeship programs and private trade schools have also seen increased participation.

Several young trade workers interviewed from across the country described persistent pressure from family, guidance counselors, and peers to pursue college degrees, despite observing the struggles of degree holders finding jobs in their fields. Economic considerations are central to the shift: the average sticker price for a four-year college now stands near $200,000, prompting many students to opt for vocational programs costing under $25,000. Scholarships and government incentives aimed at these programs have helped make them more accessible.

Logan Bangert, 18, from California, turned down a $50,000-per-year college opportunity and completed a seven-month program to become a wind turbine technician. Now based in Houston, he earns between $80,000 and $90,000 annually and views the physical demands of his job as a safeguard against automation.

Industry representatives acknowledge that the college degree remains a reliable route to higher earnings over a lifetime, with median incomes for bachelor’s degree holders approximately 80% higher than those with only high school diplomas. However, Jerome Grant, CEO of Universal Technical Institute, emphasized that trade programs serve students who might otherwise enter low-wage jobs and that the narrative framing trades as inferior to four-year education is shifting.

Despite these positive trends, a significant stigma associated with trade careers persists. A 2025 survey found that 71% of Gen Z participants perceived vocational schooling as less prestigious than college, and only 7% of parents preferred trades over academic routes for their children. Stereotypes about tradespeople and cultural biases contribute to these attitudes, often discouraging potential trainees. Women and minorities, such as Glass and other apprentices, report occasional workplace discrimination or skepticism about their capabilities, underscoring challenges in diversifying these fields.

Ryan Shikhman, 21, a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning technician from Staten Island, also faced familial and social expectations favoring college, but he now runs his own business earning over $100,000 annually. Both he and colleagues speak openly about the physical toll of their work and the desire over time to shift into managerial roles or other ventures.

As infrastructure demands grow and a wave of retirements looms, industry groups warn that millions of skilled trade jobs may remain unfilled. For many in Gen Z, trades offer a pragmatic alternative to traditional college pathways, one that aligns better with financial realities and evolving labor market dynamics. The increasing visibility of young tradespeople who take pride in their work may help shift longstanding perceptions and encourage more to consider these careers moving forward.