"He feels like that's more fulfilling than doing summer school at some fancy college. I think that's ironic and also a bit satisfying-that we're rediscovering the value of these jobs that indeed powered all of us to go to college."
"The job market's not easy for young college graduates. If you're a parent of a college graduate, you're asking the same question that our household is-what's going to become of our kids and their careers?"
"A November 2025 NBC News poll found that 63% of Americans now say a four-year degree is 'not worth the cost'-up from 47% in 2017. Gen Z is acting on that skepticism: Between 2011 and 2023, roughly 2 million fewer students enrolled in four-year universities, and in the first quarter of 2024, Gen Z made up nearly 25% of all new hires in skilled trades."
Ford CEO Jim Farley discusses his son's decision to pursue hands-on trade work, such as fabrication and welding, rather than attending college or taking summer classes. Farley deliberately structures his son's summers around practical trades work, viewing this as more fulfilling than traditional higher education. He notes the job market challenges for college graduates and questions the value proposition of four-year degrees. This perspective aligns with significant cultural shifts: 63% of Americans now believe four-year degrees are not worth the cost, up from 47% in 2017. Gen Z enrollment in four-year universities has declined by roughly 2 million students between 2011 and 2023, while skilled trades hiring among Gen Z reached nearly 25% of all new hires in early 2024. Surveys indicate 60% of Gen Z plans to pursue skilled-trade careers.
#higher-education-value #skilled-trades #gen-z-career-choices #college-enrollment-decline #career-development
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