(NewsNation) — Blue-collar jobs are making their return as Gen Z graduates high school and skip four-year institutions.
According to the Education Data Initiative, college enrollment peaked in 2010 and declined nearly 10% over the last 14 years. Some of the biggest reasons include rising tuition and student loan debt.
Tune in on Wednesday, April 10 at 8/7p Central for a special edition of “CUOMO” with Mike Rowe, media personality and CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation which is focused on elevating and encouraging blue-collar jobs. Not sure how to watch NewsNation? Use our ChannelFinder App to locate us on your TV.
Michael Krupnicki, president of the American Welding Society, told NewsNation that today’s society has promoted going to trade school instead of thinking it’s a mistake not attending traditional college.
“As a society, we’ve been doing a better job of promoting potential careers in the trades and working with your hands as opposed to what’s been going on for over 30 years where it’s just if you don’t go to college, there’s something wrong,” he said.
Chris Henderson, a 23-year-old electrical contractor, said the increase in demand for blue-collar trades inspired him to leave college and attend trade school instead.
“There have been more job opportunities, and less kids have been pursuing the blue-collar trade,” he told NewsNation. “So, I saw this as an opportunity, because there is great financial success now in 2024 with blue-collar trades.”
Henderson added that he didn’t see much career success after leaving the four-year university he attended in New Jersey.
“I saw more success learning electrical skills at a trade school than a four-year university, believe it or not,” he said.
Other trades, including the field of nursing, are experiencing shortages. Krupnicki said one solution to help find a solution for these shortages is to raise awareness about these fields.
“Building awareness of how wonderful careers can be in nonwhite collar jobs is the key,” he said. “I’ve seen a major shift over the last four or five years where parents and guidance counselors alike are realizing that not everybody is meant to go away to college, and not meant for white-collar jobs, and that blue-collar jobs can provide good incomes, and give people the job satisfaction that they need and that they want.”
Krupnicki added April is National Welding Month and the American Welding Society is reaching out to young adults on social media about the industry.
“The American Welding Society has a cadre of influencers that are reaching out to the young folks on social media, such as Instagram and TikTok, and really getting them fired up and interested in the career in welding. That’s been helping tremendously,” he said.
Henderson encourages high school students graduating this spring to consider a blue-collar trade.
“You develop a lifelong skill that will always keep you employed and forever making money,” he said.
“The beauty of a trade is that there’s always going to be a demand and whether it’s electrical, it’s plumbing, it’s HVAC, there’s always going to be so many job opportunities. I would highly recommend exploring this field.”