Gen Z is open minded about blue-collar work and the Fords of the economy need them - but both sides are missing each other | Fortune

"Earlier this year, Ford CEO Jim Farley said that America needed a wake-up call. Five thousand mechanic jobs at Ford had gone unfilled. They all offered six-figure salaries-well above the average American worker's wage-but people weren't applying. And Ford isn't the only employer struggling with a shortfall of workers. For over a decade, numerous blue-collar professions-careers that include manual labor ranging from manufacturing and automotive technicians to construction-have struggled to attract young people."

"Myriam Sullivan, senior director at Jobs for the Future's Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning, says the shortages stem from a "perfect storm," in which an aging workforce collides with cultural stigma around the work and increased competition for specialized labor. However, there is some evidence that Gen Z is reconsidering the stigma around blue-collar work as a frankly brutal economy pushes them to reevaluate their options."

"About 78% of Americans have noticed a rising interest in trade jobs among young adults, according to a 2024 Harris Poll survey for Intuit Credit Karma. With rising tuition costs, these debt-burdened Gen Zers are interested in well-paying careers that allow them to skip a traditional four-year college education. Enrollment in vocation-focused community college has increased by 16% in this last year."

Five thousand mechanic positions at Ford went unfilled despite six-figure salaries, illustrating a broader shortage in blue-collar professions. More than 400,000 skilled trade jobs are currently unfilled, and an estimated 3.8 million additional manufacturing workers will be needed over the next decade. Shortages stem from an aging workforce, cultural stigma around manual labor, and growing competition for specialized talent. Economic pressures and rising tuition have led many Gen Z workers to reconsider trade careers; a 2024 Harris Poll found 78% noticed rising interest, and vocation-focused community college enrollment increased 16% year-over-year. Employers and educators still lack credible pathways into these roles, leaving many positions open.

Read at Fortune