Trade industries appeal more attractive options for Gen Z in challenging employment landscape, advocates think tank president

In a shift from the traditional college path, Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, is urging Generation Z to explore skilled trades and entrepreneurship. This call comes in response to the deteriorating job market and rising student loan debt concerns, as reported by Fox Business' Daniella Genovese and Eric Revell.

Schilling's appeal, made in early 2025, is a response to the societal bias towards college degrees, which contributes to the understaffing in skilled trades. This bias, combined with an aging and retiring workforce, has led to significant shortages in these fields, numbering over one million in the U.S.

The high cost of tuition, averaging $50,000 to $60,000 per year, has made college a pricey and ineffective form of job training for many. Schilling believes that the benefits of college have not kept pace with its cost, and that college may not be a good investment for those not getting higher-paying jobs or facing unemployment.

The resumption of reporting delinquencies to credit agencies and a significant rise in the number of delinquent student loans after the end of a moratorium on student loan repayment further highlight the challenges faced by recent graduates. The underemployment rate among college graduates was 33.7% overall and 41.3% among recent graduates, with the unemployment rate for those aged 22 to 27 standing at 4.8%.

These figures paint a stark picture of the job market for recent graduates. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed the labor market "deteriorated noticeably" in the first quarter of 2025, with recent workforce entrants taking the hardest hits.

Amidst these challenges, Schilling advocates for career paths in skilled trades and entrepreneurship as viable alternatives to college. He believes that these paths can provide not only financial stability but also a sense of creativity and independence that may be lacking in the traditional college route.

The American Principles Project, founded in 2009, is a national organization focused on campaigning and advocating for the family. In this context, Schilling's call for Generation Z to reconsider the traditional college path aligns with the organization's mission to promote values that foster strong families and communities.

Angela Morabito, commenting on the Trump administration's goals for the Education Department, shared similar sentiments. She emphasized the need to prioritize vocational education and apprenticeship programmes, recognizing their importance in equipping individuals with the skills necessary for in-demand jobs.

In conclusion, as the job market for recent graduates remains challenging and the cost of college continues to soar, Schilling's call for Generation Z to explore skilled trades and entrepreneurship resonates. By encouraging young people to consider alternative career paths, we may be able to address the shortages in skilled trades, empower individuals to pursue their passions, and build a more robust and resilient workforce.