KQED's Forum Gen Z Embraces Trades as the College-to-Career Pipeline Cracks
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Jun 24, 2025 Amanda Hoover, a senior correspondent at Business Insider, Iowayna Peña, director of workforce development in San Francisco, and Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of Jewish Vocational Services, discuss Gen Z's shift towards skilled trades. They dive into how rising student debt and the search for job stability are prompting young professionals to pursue practical careers like plumbing and electrical work. The conversation highlights the importance of vocational education, mentorship, and how these career paths challenge traditional stigmas, while emphasizing meaningful work that resonates with this generation's values.
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Why Gen Z Chooses Trades
- Rising student debt and fears about AI impacting white-collar jobs push Gen Z towards trades.
- Trades like electrical, plumbing, and construction remain largely unaffected by automation.
Turning Lawn Care Into Business
- A young landscaper turned his high school summer job into a thriving business.
- He values being his own boss and the direct link between effort and reward.
Trade Job Growth Drivers
- Construction and allied trades are the fastest-growing sectors for recent college grads.
- Infrastructure needs like housing and renewable energy drive this trend.