Gen Z Finds Financial Security Early in Skilled Trades - Meanwhile The Future of Knowledge Work Darkens

Maybe it was a giant conspiracy to prop up the higher-education industry in America. That is, all the memes developed post-WW II to ensure that youth not only go to college but hang around for a pile-on of advanced degrees. 

Smirk. They ranged from "They can never take your education away from you" to "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." Even until today LinkedIn has a slot mandating the listing of your educational alma mater. Would I dare put Ace Long-Distance Drivers School? Some posters even include their actual degrees such as Ph.D., MA, or JD smack next to their names. 

Whatever the higher-ed prompters were, obviously they were effective. And still are in some circles. For instance applications to law schools are up almost 6 percent this year compared to 2023. That usually comes with a 6-figure nut in educational loans. 

Meanwhile the 8-decade cattle-prodding to consume more and more academic degrees has produced an extreme glut of "knowledge workers." 

The professional anonymous networks such as Reddit, Fishbowl, Blind and Glassdoor bear witness to the tragedy of the highly educated's failure to land that first job which entails leveraging a college degree, hold on to a job or lucrative contract assignments in fields such a management consulting or content-creation and/or land another position or pick up another contract after being terminated. They are being told: You are a dime a dozen.

The situation worsens with aging. According to ProPublica, half of those 50 or older will be forced out of their jobs. Only 1 in 10 of them, if they obtain another job, will earn as much as the position they lost. Of course, Gen AI could wind up putting the lion's share of knowledge workers on a welfare stipend. 

But some of the youngest generation to enter the labor market are having none of all this. CNBC reports:

"Skilled trade professions including electricians, plumbers and mechanics are seeing a gradual uptick in the number of workers between the ages of 18 and 25 joining these fields, according to Gusto data ..."

The article features a 20-something who trained in auto mechanics, already has received a promotion and has purchased a house. 

In those skilled-trade sectors, unlike in myriad knowledge-work industries, even the rank and file don't have to deal with so much customer pressure. The gallows humor could be: If the auto mechanic told me that the car needed a heart-lung transplant I would thank them and ask, with great deference, when is the soonest that can be done.

In contrast even the stars in law firms ranging from Skadden to Paul, Weiss might have to endure unreasonable clients' demands. That stress can be passed down the line, making those workplaces joyless. As one lawyer I coached told me: "It was such a high in law school learning how to think and all that. There's nothing I enjoy about practicing law."

In this town the blue collars have the house, the huge RV in the driveway and the cruises booked. The knowledge workers like myself have the worry about our future.

Full Disclosure: Shame on me. I earned the BA, MA, Ph.D. and matriculated as a 1L at Harvard Law School. 

In business and life you usually have only one shot at whatever. Up the odds of success with Jane Genova. I am an intuitive coach, tarot reader and content-creator. Complimentary consultation (please text/phone 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)