Research finds nearly all (98%) Gen Z jobseekers open to skilled trades careers would pursue those opportunities if training was funded and nearly 3 in 4 would be “extremely likely” to pursue programmes offering paid training, revealing opportunities to attract new generation to manufacturing, healthcare and skilled trades.

Ready to Hire, part of the skills training business of Cengage Group, a global edtech company, released its Gen Z in the Skilled Workforce report – which surveyed 525 Gen Zers (age 18-29) currently working in or considering entry-level roles in manufacturing, skilled trades and healthcare – to better understand how they discover and evaluate career pathways. The research comes as industry estimates suggest that 4.2M U.S. workers are planning to retire next year, highlighting the urgent need for organisations to reach this next generation.

“Organisations that rely on a skilled entry-level workforce and face an aging workforce with significant retirements expected in the next year are under significant pressure to attract the next generation,” said Rya Conrad-Bradshaw, SVP, Cengage Work and General Manager, ed2go and Ready to Hire. “Many specialised roles in manufacturing and healthcare require students to self-fund certification programmes, which our research shows can be a critical barrier to entry for Gen Z jobseekers.”

In fact, 98% of Gen Z jobseekers say they would be more likely to pursue an entry level career in skilled trades if training was funded, and nearly 1 in 4 (23%) cite financial resource barriers as a primary obstacle. Nearly 3 in 4 (70%) indicated they’re “extremely likely” to pursue programmes offering paid training in skilled trades that lead directly to employment.

Beyond financial challenges, respondents expressed feeling underprepared by their training. Less than half (45%) in skilled trades roles felt that their training fully prepared them for their responsibilities and 20% of those who were looking for jobs in the skilled trades reported a lack of qualifications to move forward with applications. Just over half (52%) want more preparation for their roles, citing gaps in hands-on experience and tech-focused training.

“As these results show, the high cost of training, along with inadequate training programmes, are major obstacles in connecting this generation to skilled trades,” said Conrad-Bradshaw. “Removing these barriers and offering better access to affordable and comprehensive training programmes gives organisations a competitive edge in attracting this generation and nurturing the next wave of loyal talent.”
To learn more and to download to the Gen Z in the Skilled Workforce report, visit readytohire.com/blog/gen-z-in-the-skilled-workforce/.