College or trade school? How the calculus is changing

With the costs of education continuing to rise, some young people are swapping college degrees for tool belts and apprenticeships.

Air Date: October 14, 2026

(Photo: Rob Lambert)

What does it take to start a fulfilling career? More jobs in the U.S. have required some kind of college education, with requirements for bachelor’s degrees up 7% since the early 1990s. However, the costs of higher education are continuing to rise in the U.S. The threat of AI taking over white-collar jobs has many on-edge. Plus, there’s an ongoing shortage of skilled laborers as the older generation exits the job market. According to Jobs for the Future, over 70% of teens in America say they’d be proud to swap a traditional four-year education for a tool belt and a trade.

On this episode of Studio 2, we discuss the uptick in Gen Z and other young people looking toward skilled trades as a new pathway for their future. How significant is the trend? What could it mean for the labor market? And how satisfied are new tradespeople with their careers? What are the pros and cons of foregoing a college degree?

Guests:

Michael Rounds, president of Williamson College of the Trades
Maria Flynn, president and CEO of Jobs for the Future
Christopher Booker, special correspondent for PBS News Hour

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