These jobs offer better pay and security, but you may be surprised by what they are
The job market isn’t what it used to be—and Gen Z is taking notice. The days of fresh-faced young grads going straight from the dorm to climbing the corporate ladder (even if they start on the bottom rung) seems like a relic of the past, and a new report confirms it. The career experts at Resume Builder commissioned the survey, and it reveals that many young adults are rethinking the long-held belief that a single path guarantees career success.
To better understand what’s going on, Reader’s Digest spoke to Keith Spencer, a career and education expert at FlexJobs who specializes in Gen Z talent, and Lisa Marker-Robbins, a master certified career coach who works with younger generations. It turns out Gen Z is taking a closer look at certain types of careers that offer stability, solid pay and hands-on satisfaction. Here’s what the report uncovered, what the experts say and why the route to college may be upended by this new trend.
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How did the study determine Gen Z’s job preferences?
Resume Builder commissioned the poll about Gen Z and career choices, which was carried out online through the platform Pollfish, beginning on May 14, 2025. In total, 1,434 respondents in the United States between the ages of 18 and 28 participated, offering a detailed snapshot of Gen Z perspectives.
What type of job are Gen Z college graduates gravitating toward?
More than a third of Gen Z college graduates (37%) are now opting for blue-collar jobs, according to Resume Builder. “Blue-collar” typically refers to jobs that involve manual labor, skilled trades or other hands-on tasks, spanning fields like construction, manufacturing, electrical work, plumbing, automotive repair and other trades that keep physical systems and infrastructure running.
Blue-collar roles often require technical training or apprenticeships—not a four-year degree. And it turns out Gen Zers aren’t waiting until after college to think about trade work: 42% of all Gen Zers are either working in or preparing for a hands-on trade profession. Among college graduates, the shift is skewed slightly by gender, with 46% of men with college degrees working in or pursuing trades, compared to 27% of women.
Why are blue-collar jobs high on their list?
Reasons for Gen Z’s interest in blue-collar jobs vary. One-third of respondents said that trade jobs offer better long-term prospects, believing that these jobs provide more job security. This fits with the 16% who reported that they weren’t earning enough with their degree and the 27% who believe they can earn more money by pursuing a trade. Almost 20% of respondents also said that they couldn’t find a job in their field—hence, the switch to blue-collar careers, which 29% believe are in high demand right now.
This a clear change from generations past, says Spencer, who is also a former university career counselor. “Over the last century or so, there has been a broad social push for young people to attend college, while blue-collar jobs have often been viewed as temporary or fallback options,” he explains. “Gen Z’s growing interest in skilled trades and other non-degree work represents a meaningful mindset shift in response to today’s economic realities.”
So what’s the catalyst for this change? It appears that the rise of AI has seriously affected this generation: A recent survey of 1,000 Gen Z workers by career site Zety found that 65% of respondents don’t believe a college degree offers protection from AI-driven job loss, and 43% have already changed or adjusted their career plans because of AI’s growing influence. The Resume Builder survey found that 25% of Gen Zers believe that blue-collar jobs are less likely to be replaced by AI.
How valid are Gen Z’s concerns about the job market?
This generation’s worries about the future are grounded in the current reality, Spencer says. Economic uncertainty and a softening labor market have heightened Gen Z’s concerns about the traditional path from college to a white-collar job.
“This pressure is especially intense for those carrying student loan debt and is prompting many who are considering post-secondary education to pause, instead favoring more stable jobs that don’t require a four-year degree,” Spencer explains. “Add in the rising cost of living, and it’s easy to see why blue-collar jobs offering reliable pay, less debt-related stress and opportunities for skills-based advancement are increasingly appealing.”
Marker-Robbins, who specializes in helping 15- to 25-year-olds launch their careers, agrees, noting that the rise of AI automation plays a major role when it comes to the lack of entry-level jobs for college graduates. “AI is trimming a lot of the repetitive, early-career white-collar work that used to be a natural first step into many professions,” she says. “At the same time, employers are stretching out hiring timelines with more rounds of interviews and assessments, and they’re being more cautious about headcount.”
How will this affect Gen Z’s long-term job prospects and earning potential?
For many young adults, skilled trades can actually help increase future earning power and decrease risk, Marker-Robbins says. “Long term, Gen Z can absolutely thrive—but ‘college for everyone’ is gone, and honestly, it hasn’t served us well given the talent deficit in the trades we now have,” she explains. “The young adults who will do best are the ones who combine self-awareness with good labor-market choices, not make pressured choices to pursue the college path.”
This is especially true for those who have to accrue student debt in order to afford a college education. “If you compare a 19-year-old who starts a paid apprenticeship with no debt to a 22-year-old who graduates with $80,000 in loans and no clear path, the tradesperson often pulls ahead financially—and stays ahead for quite a while,” she says.
What are the highest-paying blue-collar jobs?
Blue-collar jobs pay more than you might think. “Many blue-collar jobs out-earn those that require a bachelor’s degree,” Marker-Robbins says. “And, from a risk perspective, trades are often safer than many white-collar paths right now.”
According to a recent report from Resume Genius, these are the top 10 highest-paying blue-collar jobs:
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Elevator and escalator technician: Median salary, $106,580; top 10%, $149,250
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Electrical power line installer and repairer: Median salary, $92,560; top 10%, $126,610
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Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanic and technician: Median salary, $79,140; top 10%, $120,080
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Railroad worker: Median salary, $75,680; top 10%, $100,130
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Stationary engineer and boiler operator: Median salary, $75,190; top 10%, $121,200
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Industrial machinery mechanic: Median salary, $63,510; top 10%, $85,970
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Plumber, pipe fitter and steamfitter: Median salary, $62,970; top 10%, $105,150
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Wind turbine technician: Median salary, $62,580; top 10%, $88,090
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Electrician: Median salary, $62,350; top 10%, $106,030
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Solar photovoltaic (PV) installer: Median salary, $51,860; top 10%, $80,150
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Sources:
- Keith Spencer, career expert at FlexJobs; interviewed, November 2025
- Lisa Marker-Robbins, master certified career coach; interviewed, November 2025
- Resume Builder: “4 in 10 Gen Z College Grads Are Turning to Blue-Collar Work for Job Security”
- Zety: “65% of Gen Z Say College Degrees Won’t Protect Them from AI”
- Resume Genius: “The Highest-Paying Blue-Collar Jobs of 2025”
