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Business Journals
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
Gen Z more interested in trade careers; dress codes change post-pandemic
Editor's Note: Welcome to The Playbook Edition, a look at stories, trends and changes that could affect your business. Want more stories like this in your inbox? Sign up for The Playbook newsletter. GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY Find Local Events Near You Connect with a community of local professionals. Explore All Events Here's why Gen Zers are increasingly drawn to trade careers Some Generation Z adults are becoming more interested in trade careers as economic pressures mount and concerns about artificial-intelligence tools persist. That's according to a recent survey from Resume Builder, which found 42% of Gen Zers are working in or pursuing a skilled-trade job, including 37% of those with a bachelor's degree. The report surveyed 1,434 adults ages 18 to 28. Regardless of education level, Gen Z men surveyed were significantly more likely than women to choose trade careers, with 48% of men saying they worked in or planned to enter the trades, compared to 30% of women. Top factors cited for choosing work outside of white-collar professions included avoiding student-loan debt and reducing the potential risk of being replaced by AI tools. The shift, according to the report, is especially prevalent among Gen Z men with degrees, as 46% of them are working in or pursuing trades compared to 27% of women with degrees. Key quote: "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." — Resume Builder's Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller FULL STORY: Here's why Gen Zers are increasingly drawn to trade careers Casual dress codes were a post-pandemic perk. That's starting to change. Companies have pulled back on advertising casual dress codes in 2025, but that doesn't mean the days of relaxed in-office attire workers have enjoyed post-pandemic are coming to an end. The Playbook's senior reporter Andy Medici writes that an analysis of job postings by job-matching platform Adzuna that was shared exclusively with The Playbook found the percentage of listings in April that mentioned a casual dress code came in at 61.1%, the lowest April figure since the onset of the pandemic. In April 2019, casual dress code mentions were part of 58.5% of job listings. Per Medici, that number rose to 63% in April 2020 and reached a peak of 80.6% in April 2022 before coming back down. Medici notes that references to business-casual dress codes, which stood at 40.2% of job postings in April 2019, fell all the way to 18.6% of job postings in April 2022 before rising back up to 37.2% this year, according to Adzuna. Key quote: "During the pandemic, it was common for employers to advertise casual dress and remote work to attract candidates. But now that casual dress has become the standard, companies no longer feel it's necessary to drive recruitment. So even though fewer job listings directly advertise their casual dress code, it's still very much the standard in most workplaces." — Sam Debase, a career expert at ZipRecruiter FULL STORY: Casual dress codes were a post-pandemic perk. That's starting to change. Office returns are hitting their new normal As more corporate titans have pushed for employees returning to the office in 2025, the rate of in-person work is inching toward pre-pandemic levels in some major metros. The Business Journals' Joanne Drilling writes that April 2025 was the third-busiest in-office month since the pandemic — outpaced only by October and July 2024 — with office visits down 30.7% nationally compared to April 2019. The data comes from the most recent Nationwide Office Building Index, which leverages cellphone location data to analyze foot traffic and visits from about 1,000 office buildings across the country. Despite the robust traffic numbers recorded in April, a full return to pre-pandemic visitation levels hasn't yet materialized in most cities, Drilling notes. Key quote: "Consumers are just not spending 40 hours a week in the office. They're still embracing this hybrid model, but with a lot of companies heading into the office, we have some improvement in the percentage of visits compared to pre-pandemic levels." — R.J. Hottovy, head of analytical research at FULL STORY: Office returns are hitting their new normal The blitz: Workers feel stigma around disability accommodations has worsened … The pay raise picture is shifting. Here's where wages are rising the most. … SBA launches portal to boost Made in America Manufacturing Initiative … SBA overhauls another loan program amid rising defaults
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gen Z turn to trade jobs, ditch white-collar careers amid AI uncertainty, poor corporate wages
It's trick of the trade. Gen Z is turning to traditional trade jobs amid fears AI will soon replace many white-collar careers, a new survey has uncovered. Resume Builder polled more than 1,400 Gen Z adults between the ages of 18 and 28, finding that 42% of Zoomers are currently working in or pursuing a blue-collar or skilled trade job, such as plumbing, welding or electrical work, including 37% of those with a bachelor's degree. Almost a third of respondents said such jobs offer better long-term prospects, while a quarter said the roles are less likely to be taken over by AI. 'More Gen Z college graduates are turning to trade careers and for good reason,' Resume Builder's Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller declared. '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.' Indeed, almost one in five Zoomers (19%) who are currently working in a trade said they were unable to find a job in the field that they had studied for. Of those who were able to land a white-collar role, 16% eventually quit and turned to a trade job because it potentially offered more money. It's a stunning inversion from decades' past, where a job requiring a college degree typically offered far better pay than blue-collar work. Resume Builder also found that trade jobs were particularly enticing for Gen Z as the cost of obtaining a college degree continues to rise. Many surveyed Zoomers said they didn't want to be burdened by paying back burdensome college loans. The average cost of college in the United States has more than doubled over the past 24 years to $38,270 per student per year, according to the Education Data Initiative. The findings come less than a year after The Wall Street Journal reported that Gen Z is becoming 'the toolbelt generation.' Trades are flourishing as college enrollment shrinks, per the report, which found that 'the number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level … since 2018.' Kids studying construction trades rose 23% during the five-year period, while those training for HVAC and vehicle repair careers increased 7%. An Associated Press article from 2023 also reported on the trend, similarly saying pricey college tuition was turning Zoomers off higher education. 'If I would have gone to college after school, I would be dead broke,' one young man working at a Ford plant told the Associated Press in a story about young people skipping college in favor of the skilled trades. The youngster is making $24 an hour at age 19, with no student debt.
Economic Times
24-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Is the AI takeover driving Gen Z back to traditional jobs amid uncertainty in white-collar careers?
AI Anxiety and the Death of the Cubicle Dream iStock As automation and machine learning loom over traditional white-collar roles, many young professionals are gravitating toward careers grounded in practical skills—jobs that can't be replaced by an algorithm or programmed into obsolescence. Degrees, Debt, and Diminishing Returns You Might Also Like: Are Gen Z lacking basic math skills? Bengaluru CEO's simple test exposes the truth The Rise of the 'Toolbelt Generation' iStock Less than a year ago, The Wall Street Journal dubbed Gen Z 'the toolbelt generation,' reflecting how skilled trades are gaining new respect. You Might Also Like: What is 'barebacking'? A new Gen Z trend is quietly resisting the hustle culture Back to the Future: Are Trade Jobs the New Dream? In an era where artificial intelligence is rewriting job descriptions overnight, Generation Z is making a bold, some say countercultural, move—trading white collars for toolbelts. A recent survey by Resume Builder, which polled over 1,400 young adults aged 18 to 28, has revealed that 42% of Gen Z are either already working in or actively pursuing careers in skilled trades like plumbing, electrical work, and welding. Even more telling, 37% of them hold a college to a report from the New York Post, this dramatic shift is more than a fleeting trend—it signals a recalibration of values. Instead of chasing traditional office jobs that once promised prestige and stability, many Gen Zers are opting for hands-on, practical professions that offer security in a rapidly automating underlying driver of this pivot? A rising tide of uncertainty fueled by the rise of AI. As machine learning and automation threaten to overhaul a vast swath of white-collar roles, young professionals are seeking careers that can't be easily coded out of existence. Almost one in four survey respondents said trade jobs seemed less susceptible to AI disruption."More Gen Z college graduates are turning to trade careers and for good reason," said Stacie Haller, Chief Career Advisor at Resume Builder. 'Trade jobs offer hands-on work that's difficult to automate. Many grads find their degrees don't lead to real careers, prompting them to explore more practical, in-demand alternatives.'Today, a college degree no longer guarantees a solid career path—or even a job at all. Nearly 19% of Gen Z respondents currently working in trades said they simply couldn't find employment in the field they studied. Another 16% said they quit white-collar jobs because trade work offered higher earning financial burden of higher education is also tipping the scales. With college costs now averaging more than $38,000 per year, according to the Education Data Initiative, many Zoomers are wary of the lifelong debt trap. Choosing a trade job, on the other hand, often comes with on-the-job training, faster entry into the workforce, and no hefty tuition bill to pay back.A cultural rebrand is underway. Less than a year ago, The Wall Street Journal dubbed Gen Z 'the toolbelt generation,' reflecting how skilled trades are gaining new respect. Vocational community college enrollment is surging—up 16% last year to its highest level since 2018. Programs in construction, HVAC, and automotive repair have also seen significant Associated Press feature echoed this shift. One 19-year-old working at a Ford plant shared that had he gone to college, he would be 'dead broke.' Instead, he's making $24 an hour, debt-free, and building a future without the corporate was once seen as a fallback option is now emerging as a career of choice. In a job market destabilized by technology, trade work offers Gen Z something increasingly rare: tangible skills, real income, and a future less likely to be outsourced to an shift raises an essential question—are we witnessing a return to the trades not just out of necessity, but out of a deeper reevaluation of success itself? For Gen Z, the path to prosperity may not lie behind a desk but in mastering the tools of their trade—literally.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Is the AI takeover driving Gen Z back to traditional jobs amid uncertainty in white-collar careers?
As AI continues to disrupt traditional office careers, many Gen Z individuals are turning to skilled trades like plumbing and electrical work. Drawn by job stability, practical skills, and a sense of purpose, this generation is redefining success. Their choice reflects a growing disillusionment with corporate careers and a desire for more grounded, future-proof professions. A cultural shift is underway as Gen Z increasingly chooses hands-on trade jobs over white-collar roles. With growing skepticism about college returns and tech-driven job insecurity, many young adults are embracing careers that offer tangible skills and immediate impact. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads AI Anxiety and the Death of the Cubicle Dream As automation and machine learning loom over traditional white-collar roles, many young professionals are gravitating toward careers grounded in practical skills—jobs that can't be replaced by an algorithm or programmed into obsolescence. Degrees, Debt, and Diminishing Returns Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Rise of the 'Toolbelt Generation' Less than a year ago, The Wall Street Journal dubbed Gen Z 'the toolbelt generation,' reflecting how skilled trades are gaining new respect. Back to the Future: Are Trade Jobs the New Dream? In an era where artificial intelligence is rewriting job descriptions overnight, Generation Z is making a bold, some say countercultural, move—trading white collars for toolbelts. A recent survey by Resume Builder, which polled over 1,400 young adults aged 18 to 28, has revealed that 42% of Gen Z are either already working in or actively pursuing careers in skilled trades like plumbing, electrical work, and welding. Even more telling, 37% of them hold a college to a report from the New York Post, this dramatic shift is more than a fleeting trend—it signals a recalibration of values. Instead of chasing traditional office jobs that once promised prestige and stability, many Gen Zers are opting for hands-on, practical professions that offer security in a rapidly automating underlying driver of this pivot? A rising tide of uncertainty fueled by the rise of AI. As machine learning and automation threaten to overhaul a vast swath of white-collar roles, young professionals are seeking careers that can't be easily coded out of existence. Almost one in four survey respondents said trade jobs seemed less susceptible to AI disruption."More Gen Z college graduates are turning to trade careers and for good reason," said Stacie Haller, Chief Career Advisor at Resume Builder. 'Trade jobs offer hands-on work that's difficult to automate. Many grads find their degrees don't lead to real careers, prompting them to explore more practical, in-demand alternatives.'Today, a college degree no longer guarantees a solid career path—or even a job at all. Nearly 19% of Gen Z respondents currently working in trades said they simply couldn't find employment in the field they studied. Another 16% said they quit white-collar jobs because trade work offered higher earning financial burden of higher education is also tipping the scales. With college costs now averaging more than $38,000 per year, according to the Education Data Initiative, many Zoomers are wary of the lifelong debt trap. Choosing a trade job, on the other hand, often comes with on-the-job training, faster entry into the workforce, and no hefty tuition bill to pay back.A cultural rebrand is underway. Less than a year ago, The Wall Street Journal dubbed Gen Z 'the toolbelt generation,' reflecting how skilled trades are gaining new respect. Vocational community college enrollment is surging—up 16% last year to its highest level since 2018. Programs in construction, HVAC, and automotive repair have also seen significant Associated Press feature echoed this shift. One 19-year-old working at a Ford plant shared that had he gone to college, he would be 'dead broke.' Instead, he's making $24 an hour, debt-free, and building a future without the corporate was once seen as a fallback option is now emerging as a career of choice. In a job market destabilized by technology, trade work offers Gen Z something increasingly rare: tangible skills, real income, and a future less likely to be outsourced to an shift raises an essential question—are we witnessing a return to the trades not just out of necessity, but out of a deeper reevaluation of success itself? For Gen Z, the path to prosperity may not lie behind a desk but in mastering the tools of their trade—literally.
New York Post
24-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Gen Z turn to trade jobs, ditch white-collar careers amid AI uncertainty, poor corporate wages
It's trick of the trade. Gen Z is turning to traditional trade jobs amid fears AI will soon replace many white-collar careers, a new survey has uncovered. Resume Builder polled more than 1,400 Gen Z adults between the ages of 18 and 28, finding that 42% of Zoomers are currently working in or pursuing a blue-collar or skilled trade job, such as plumbing, welding or electrical work, including 37% of those with a bachelor's degree. Advertisement Almost a third of respondents said such jobs offer better long-term prospects, while a quarter said the roles are less likely to be taken over by AI. 'More Gen Z college graduates are turning to trade careers and for good reason,' Resume Builder's Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller declared. '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.' Advertisement Indeed, almost one in five Zoomers (19%) who are currently working in a trade said they were unable to find a job in the field that they had studied for. Of those who were able to land a white-collar role, 16% eventually quit and turned to a trade job because it potentially offered more money. It's a stunning inversion from decades' past, where a job requiring a college degree typically offered far better pay than blue-collar work. 3 Of those who were able to land a white-collar role, 16% eventually quit and turned to a trade job because it potentially offered more money. alfa27 – Advertisement Resume Builder also found that trade jobs were particularly enticing for Gen Z as the cost of obtaining a college degree continues to rise. Many surveyed Zoomers said they didn't want to be burdened by paying back burdensome college loans. The average cost of college in the United States has more than doubled over the past 24 years to $38,270 per student per year, according to the Education Data Initiative. Advertisement 3 A college degree and a white-collar job no longer guarantees economic security, particularly with the looming layoff threats caused by AI. Jadon Bester/ – The findings come less than a year after The Wall Street Journal reported that Gen Z is becoming 'the toolbelt generation.' Trades are flourishing as college enrollment shrinks, per the report, which found that 'the number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level … since 2018.' Kids studying construction trades rose 23% during the five-year period, while those training for HVAC and vehicle repair careers increased 7%. An Associated Press article from 2023 also reported on the trend, similarly saying pricey college tuition was turning Zoomers off higher education. 'If I would have gone to college after school, I would be dead broke,' one young man working at a Ford plant told the Associated Press in a story about young people skipping college in favor of the skilled trades. The youngster is making $24 an hour at age 19, with no student debt.
