Gen Z’s Turn to Skilled Trades in Upstate: Unveiling The Reasons
Gen Z, the future of our workforce, is making a marked shift towards vocational careers, turning its back on traditional pursuit of college degrees. Skilled trades are gaining momentum in Upstate, and here’s why.
Trending Vocational Education: A New Career Path Unveiled
With a significant rise in enrollment in vocational-focused community colleges, Gen Z is setting new trends in choosing career paths. From construction maintenance, vehicle maintenance and repair, to electrical work, students are willingly diving deep into the realms of skilled trades. National Student Clearinghouse reports a commendable 16% jump in the past year enrollment in such community colleges – an unprecedented growth since the data tracking began in 2018.
High Cost of College Education: A Detour Towards Skilled Training
The unthinkable tuition costs for top-tier in-state public colleges, which average over $10,000 for a year, coupled with other allied expenditures such as food, housing, and books, are creating a significant detour towards skilled trades. For many fresh high-school graduates, the idea of sitting through four more years of classroom education while bearing these ballooning costs is not an appealing option.
Institutions like Greenville Technical College in Upstate are filling this gap by offering courses in their Industrial, Manufacturing, and Trades departments, thus serving the needs of this evolving workforce. These courses are thoughtfully scheduled during daytime and evenings, allowing students to work and learn, thus offering a win-win situation for both industries and students.
Industry-Academia Collaboration: Paving the Way For Career Progress
Recent instances illustrate how this industry-academia collaboration is restructuring the future of the workforce. For instance, a few students under the welding training program of Greenville Tech were able to gain work experience and class credit simultaneously through a staffing agency.
Economic Upswing Requires Skilled Trades
The Upstate’s economy is experiencing an upswing, attributed to the thriving sectors like automotive manufacturing, electric vehicle battery manufacturing, aerospace, and life sciences. Industrial growth demands a skilled workforce, accentuating the need for trade skills education. The rise of skilled trades is not just a trend but a necessity to fuel the economic growth of the Upstate region.
The shift towards trade skills by Gen Z is a welcome change, not just for the individuals, but for the entire economy that thrives on the skilled workforce. With more opportunities in skilled trades, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the trend continue or even grow further.
