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As Degrees Lose Ground, Generation Z Bets on Professions Like Mechanic and Electrician to Achieve Good Salaries and Stability Sooner
For decades, the ideal path involved going to university, obtaining a degree, and securing a office job. Today, this model is beginning to lose appeal among young people. Generation Z is reshaping the rules. They reject toxic environments, change jobs more frequently, and, surprisingly, are drawn to something as simple as having their own desk.
But it doesn’t stop there. While the technology sector and digital gaming remain strong, many young Americans are looking at manual jobs in a new light. Workshops, tools, and repairs have ceased to be a last resort option and have become a conscious choice.
The Return to Traditional Trades
According to information from CNBC, the positions left by older generations are being filled by young individuals determined to follow a new path. Working-class trades, such as plumbers, electricians, and mechanics, have returned to the radar of those seeking stability and good salaries.
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For many, this choice represents a break from the traditional model. The idea of spending years at a university no longer seems as appealing in light of the prospect of earning a good income in less time. The pursuit of a degree gives way to the desire to start adulthood in a more practical manner.
The Case of Crist Morillon
A striking example is Crist Morillon. At 16, in Phoenix, Arizona, she had her first contact with the automotive world in a school class.
The interest was immediate. Morillon decided not to go to university. Instead, she enrolled in the Universal Technical Institute, where she received a $15,000 scholarship (about R$ 86,000) and graduated in 2017.
As soon as she finished the course, she landed a position as a service assistant at Tesla. In 2021, she was hired as a service technician at Lucid Motors. Today, her annual salary is around $78,000, equivalent to R$ 450,000.
With ten years in the profession, she bought her first home. “I didn’t want to spend another four years sitting behind a desk. I knew I wanted to work with cars and didn’t need a degree for that,” she declared to CNBC.
Market Adapting for Young People
This movement is not limited to the United States. In China, the lack of labor has led to the modernization of factories. In addition to good salaries, workers find cafeterias and even daycare centers in the industries. The proposal is clear: make the environment more appealing to young people.
While many still believe that university is the only path to success, part of Generation Z is proving otherwise. With different choices, they are opening up space for new possibilities. The change is already underway and gaining momentum each year.
The reality is that many young people see manual jobs as a more direct alternative to achieve stability. Instead of betting on long-term success promises, they prefer to invest in practical skills. And the market is beginning to respond.
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