Nearly four in 10 Gen Z college graduates are opting away from the white collar work their degrees prepared them for and instead choosing blue collar jobs amid an uncertain job market, according to a new poll from Resume Builder.
The survey of more than 1,400 Gen Z adults found 42 percent of Gen Z-ers are currently working in or pursuing a blue-collar or skilled trade job, including 37 percent of those with a bachelor’s degree.
“Gen Z is being realistic,” HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek, in part.
Why It Matters
The blue-collar share of young workers has grown since 2020. Despite often being seen as less prestigious, these jobs often have greater stability and higher salaries compared to entry-level positions for more white collar work.
Gen Z, which includes those born from 1997 to 2012, has been described as the “toolbelt generation,” with college enrollment falling fast from 2019 to 2024.
During that period of time, the number of bachelor’s degree students fell by 3.6 percent, and associate degree enrollment dropped by 15.9 percent, but even those with a degree might be turning to blue-collar work due to today’s difficult job market.
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What To Know
In the new report, 37 percent of those with a bachelor’s degree were working a blue-collar or skilled trade job.
“Trade jobs offer a smart and rewarding path for many, especially those who prefer hands-on work and practical learning over traditional classroom settings,” Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller said in the report.
“They provide faster entry into the workforce, often without the burden of student debt, and also offer strong job security, with less risk of automation or outsourcing. These jobs often begin with apprenticeships and can lead to career growth through specialization, supervisory roles, or even business ownership, making trades a viable and stable long-term career option.”
But Gen Z men were significantly more likely than Gen Z women to choose blue-collar careers, regardless of education level.
Even among those with degrees, 46 percent of men were working in or pursuing trades, compared to 27 percent of women with degrees.
For those who did choose these blue-collar jobs, avoiding student debt and reducing the risk of being replaced by AI were major factors.
“Gen Z is being realistic,” HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek. “They’ve seen older generations grind in corporate jobs only to be left with burnout, layoffs, and shrinking returns. Blue collar work offers something corporate America no longer guarantees – stability (to some extent), tangible skills, and often union protections.”
Roughly 30 percent of those working in blue-collar roles said trade jobs offer better long-term prospects, and 19 percent said they couldn’t find a job in their original field.
Another 16 percent said they weren’t earning enough with their degree, and 25 percent said these jobs are less likely to be replaced by AI.
“It’s getting harder to find good-paying white-collar jobs, and many of the ones out there don’t pay enough to justify the debt students took on to get their degrees,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. “On top of that, companies have slowed hiring, so a lot of graduates aren’t even landing jobs in their field of study.”
What People Are Saying
Haller said in the report: “More Gen Z college graduates are turning to trade careers and for good reason. Many are concerned about AI replacing traditional white-collar roles, while trade jobs offer hands-on work that’s difficult to automate. Additionally, many grads find their degrees don’t lead to careers in their field, prompting them to explore more practical, in-demand alternatives.”
Thompson told Newsweek: “For Gen Z, blue-collar work often means quicker training, lower upfront costs, and jobs that feel more secure in the face of automation. That combination makes it a practical alternative to pursuing a four-year degree.”
Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek: “While their classmates are drowning in $100k in student debt, these Gen Z’ers are earning while they learn. Many are concerned about AI replacing traditional white collar roles. While trade jobs offer hands-on work that’s difficult to automate.”
What Happens Next
If this trend continues, college enrollment could decline while demand for apprenticeships and trade programs rises, Thompson said.
“Longer term, as more workers pile into these fields, labor supply could increase and eventually put pressure on wages,” Thompson said. “That shift won’t happen overnight, but the ripple effects on career paths and the workforce as a whole could be significant.”
Driscoll said the shift could end up rebalancing the workforce on a larger scale.
“If more Gen Z workers choose trades, employers will finally have to rethink how they treat white collar workers,” Driscoll said. “It also strengthens labor power in industries critical to infrastructure and everyday life. This isn’t Gen Z settling. This is Gen Z rejecting a broken promise and building careers on their terms.”