Trade workers are outpacing college grads in the job market for the first time in decades. U.S. Federal data shows the unemployment gap between workers with bachelor’s degrees and those with occupational associate’s degrees flipped in 2025: plumbers, electricians, and pipe fitters had lower unemployment than bachelor’s degree holders for six of the past 12 months. This is the first time that’s happened since the BLS started tracking in the 1990s, and that might impact career planning for young gens. Mean hourly wages for many trades exceed the U.S. mean of $31.50, and the highest-paying apprenticeship roles top $48/hour. Plus, with AI eliminating entry-level white-collar roles and student loan balances averaging over $42K, young people are weighing whether a four-year degree is worth the debt and time, given that skilled trades pay more. (Washington Post)
👀 Read more from YPulse: College, Trade School, or Gap Year: Gen Z’s Plans After High School
