Key insights

• 📉 📉 U.S. college enrollment is declining as costs rise and job prospects remain uncertain, pushing Gen Z towards skilled trades.
• 🔧 🔧 Many Gen Z individuals, like Morgan Bradbur, are discovering rewarding careers in skilled trades, departing from traditional college paths.
• 👷‍♀️ 👷‍♀️ Vocational school enrollment has surged by 18% from 2019 to 2024, indicating a shift toward blue-collar careers amidst soaring college costs.
• 📈 📈 Increased federal investment in infrastructure since 2020 has significantly boosted salaries and hiring rates for skilled blue-collar workers.
• 💰 💰 Young entrepreneurs such as Chase Gallagher are finding success by entering skilled trades and running their own businesses instead of attending college.
• 🔄 🔄 Chase aims to evolve his landscaping company into a private equity firm, while Morgan plans to empower women in welding.
• ⚙️ ⚙️ Gen Z's increasing participation in the workforce could revitalize industries facing talent shortages as older blue-collar workers retire.
• ⚠️ ⚠️ Challenges such as tariffs could affect blue-collar job growth, but the influx of Gen Z may ultimately enhance economic opportunities.

Q&A

• What future plans do Morgan and Chase have for their careers? 🌟

  Morgan Bradbur aims to empower women in welding through outreach initiatives and potential nonprofit work, seeking to inspire more women to enter the trade. Meanwhile, Chase Gallagher plans to expand his landscaping business into a private equity firm that focuses on home services, highlighting the ambition of Gen Z to innovate and lead in their chosen fields.

• What challenges might blue-collar jobs face in the future? 🤔

  Blue-collar jobs could potentially face challenges such as tariffs, which may negatively impact industries like construction. However, the entry of Gen Z into the workforce is expected to invigorate these sectors, providing fresh talent and energy that can enhance economic opportunities.

• What entrepreneurial endeavors are emerging among Gen Z? 💼

  Young entrepreneurs like Chase Gallagher are capitalizing on the demand for skilled labor. Chase successfully built his landscaping business, CMG, which achieved over $1 million in sales in 2024. His journey emphasizes how Gen Z is leveraging business opportunities in skilled trades rather than solely pursuing traditional education.

• How have federal investments impacted skilled worker salaries? 💰

  Since 2020, federal investment in infrastructure has substantially increased, leading to over a 25% rise in average starting salaries for skilled workers from 2019 to 2025. This surge in hiring for blue-collar jobs reflects the growing need for skilled labor in various industries, providing ample opportunities for job seekers.

• What trends are observed in vocational school enrollment? 📈

  Vocational school enrollment has seen a significant increase, with an 18% rise projected from 2019 to 2024. This shift correlates with rising college costs and a strong market demand for skilled labor, as many young individuals seek quicker and more affordable routes to lucrative careers.

• How does Morgan Bradbur’s story illustrate Gen Z's shift to skilled trades? 👷‍♀️

  Morgan Bradbur discovered her passion for welding through scouting and opted for trade school instead of a four-year college. By doing so, she secured a well-paying job as a welder soon after her training, highlighting how practical skills and vocational education provide viable and rewarding career paths for young people.

• What career paths is Gen Z pursuing instead of traditional college? 🔧

  Gen Z is increasingly leaning towards skilled trades and blue-collar jobs. This shift is driven by the need for independence, a focus on practical skills, and the availability of lucrative job opportunities in these fields, as well as a significant drop in interest in traditional four-year college paths.

• Why is U.S. college enrollment declining? 📉

  U.S. college enrollment is declining primarily due to rising education costs, which have increased by 140% for public institutions and 110% for private ones since the late 2000s. Additionally, uncertainty in job prospects for graduates has led many, particularly Gen Z, to consider alternative paths, such as skilled trades, that promise better earning potential.

• 00:00 U.S. college enrollment is declining as education costs rise and job prospects become uncertain. Gen Z is leaning towards skilled trades over traditional college paths, seeking better earning potential and independence. 📉
• 01:23 Gen Z may help fill the skilled labor gap, as exemplified by Morgan Bradbur, who discovered her passion for welding through scouting and chose a trade school over a four-year college, landing a job that pays well right out of training. 🔧
• 02:45 👷‍♀️ Many young people, like Morgan, are opting for blue-collar careers instead of traditional college, reflecting a significant rise in vocational school enrollment due to high costs of four-year education and a strong demand for skilled labor.
• 04:05 Increased federal investment in infrastructure since 2020 has led to a rise in skilled worker salaries and hiring, particularly in blue-collar jobs, as young entrepreneurs like Chase Gallagher demonstrate the growing opportunities in these fields. 📈
• 05:31 Chase balanced working for others and running his own business during high school, ultimately earning significant revenues and deciding to invest his savings into entrepreneurship instead of college. His landscaping business, CMG, achieved over $1 million in sales in 2024. 💰
• 06:45 Chase aims to evolve his landscaping business into a private equity firm focused on home services, while Morgan seeks to empower women in welding through potential nonprofit initiatives. However, challenges like tariffs may impact blue-collar jobs, yet Gen Z's entry into the workforce could invigorate these industries. 💼