Think tank president urges Gen Z to consider trades over college in tough job market

Poll shows Americans value skilled trades, but say they’re overlooked

A new Harris Poll report reveals that while Americans overwhelmingly view skilled trades as essential to society, they also believe the field is undervalued, overlooked in schools, and facing a generational perception gap that could deepen the labor shortage crisis already gripping the nation. According to the poll, conducted June 20–22, 2025, among 2,203 adults nationwide, 91 percent agree that skilled trade jobs are just as important as white-…

Think tank president urges Gen Z to consider trades over college in tough job market

Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, is encouraging Gen Zers to reconsider the traditional college route and explore skilled trades or entrepreneurship, as recent graduates face a challenging job market."We need to go back to the drawing board, and if we can avoid having an entire generation stuck with $80,000 to $150,000 worth of student loans, and they can still get good jobs, we should absolutely pursue those things,…

Financial News Network - Think tank president urges Gen Z to consider trades over college in tough job market

American Principles Project president suggests trades as an alternative to college amid worsening job market for young graduates and over 1 million unfilled trade positions.Read More …