DeWalt survey reveals Gen Z views on the trades
A new survey from DeWalt found that high schoolers enrolled in skilled trades programs are fully committed to their future career (68 percent), but faced challenges accessing crucial training, with 52 percent of students reporting they were placed on a waitlist.
Once enrolled, 55 percent participated in internships, 47 percent in mentorship opportunities, and 46 percent have had real work experience, highlighting the value of technical training programs in fostering skilled career development.
DeWalt commissioned the study, Gen Z in the Skilled Trades, to explore Gen Z's commitment to skilled trades and identified which obstacles might stand in the way of establishing a career in the field. Participants, all pre-apprentices in the U.S., were students ages 14-18 enrolled in either a trade or vocational school or a skilled trades training program at their local high school.
"Annual hiring in the U.S. for critical skilled trades roles could be more than 20 times the projected annual increase in net new jobs from 2022-2032 as Gen Z enters the workforce," said Maria Ford, president, Commercial & Industrial, DeWalt. "Skilled trades jobs play an essential role in our country's infrastructure and economy, and through our Grow The Trades initiative, DeWalt is committed to meeting the demand Gen Z is driving for training and educational funding. This is a call to the industry to embrace this generation's passion and their needs to remain lifelong tradespeople."
Here's a snapshot of DeWalt's key findings:
Gen Z is gaining early exposure and is optimistic.
The survey found that 80 percent of students were first introduced to a career in the trades by the time they were 15 years old, with more than a quarter being exposed at age 13 or younger.
The majority of students who took the next step and enrolled in skilled trades education feel optimistic about their career choice, with 77 percent somewhat to extremely optimistic. Those around them, particularly their parents as well as their friends, are also positive about careers in the trades. In fact, 80 percent of respondents say their parents view careers in the trades somewhat to extremely positively, and 71% say the same of their friends.
Gen Z's optimism is validated by employment prospects.
In addition to feeling optimistic about their career choice, students are also confident about future job opportunities. The majority of respondents (84 percent) believe they will be hired immediately following graduation and more than two-thirds (67 percent) have already had conversations with potential employers who expressed an interest in hiring them.
Key barriers are access to training and workplaces that align with generational values.
Beyond access to training, key concerns include the cost of trade school (43 percent), availability of networking opportunities (39 percent), finding time for class and related class work (35 percent), and access to equipment and tools for successful training (33 percent).
Survey results also show another set of barriers awaiting the Gen Z cohort once they are in full-time positions. Gen Z's value system differs from that of Boomers and Gen X, the generations they'll encounter in many management positions. The majority of respondents, for example, rated work-life balance (85 percent) and a caring boss (79 percent) as somewhat or extremely important expectations of a future job, a likely departure from previous generations' expectations.
Meeting Gen Z's expectations is essential for retention.
While this generation is committed, one in three students say they will leave the skilled trades entirely if the industry does not meet their expectations. Among Gen Z's most vital needs to stay in the field are a positive work-life balance (37 percent) and a clear path to advancement (35 percent).
View more survey findings here.
