For every five tradespeople who retire, only two are entering the field. That’s according to TV presenter Mike Rowe, who recently appeared on Fox News to talk about the “alarming math” he says the blue collar segment of the economy faces.
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Rowe told Fox’s Brian Kilmeade that, 16 years ago, he helped start a campaign to promote “a couple good jobs that nobody seemed to want that, nevertheless, gave you a straight path towards a six-figure salary.”
“We’ve been beating the drum ever since,” he said. Has Rowe’s drumbeat finally caught the attention of younger Americans?
Gen Z takes up trade jobs
Gen Z Americans, those born between 1997 and 2012, are increasingly attracted to skilled trades, according to the second annual Future of the Skilled Trades report from gig-work platform Thumbtack.
More than half of this cohort said they were considering a job in the trades. The report goes as far as to label Americans in this age group the “Toolbelt Generation”.
However, Mike Rowe and his ilk may not be the driving force behind this shift. Instead, younger Americans say they’re inspired by what they see on social media.
Skilled trades work has become more “Instagrammable” in recent years, said 60% of respondents — a huge attraction for a generation that is chronically online.
The number of trades-related posts on TikTok and Instagram surged 52% from 2023 to 2024, according to the report, while 77% of Gen Z say they’ve seen more attention being paid to skilled trades recently.
Besides looking cool online, younger Americans might be attracted to these roles because of higher salaries and promising growth.
A cable technician and an aircraft mechanic can earn an average salary of $70,714 and $82,476 respectively, according to Indeed.
Frontline jobs in the emerging green energy sector are growing rapidly. The number of wind turbine technician jobs is expected to grow 60% from 2023 to 2033, while the number of solar installer jobs is expected to grow 22% over the same period.
If you’re looking to discover a new career and earn a competitive salary too, Indeed outlines a simple series of steps.
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