About one-third of Gen Z have considered becoming a tradesperson for financial reasons, according to a survey conducted by Draper Tools and OnePoll.com.
Almost half of the 2,000 respondents aged under 28 believed that becoming a tradesperson is a quicker way to earn £100k than going to university, with 53% saying they would be able to buy a home sooner by entering a trade rather than pursuing higher education.
By contrast, only 15% thought that higher education would help them get on the property ladder faster than completing an apprenticeship.
The main reasons for choosing a trade over university included higher earning potential (35%), avoiding student debt (34%) and the ability to start earning sooner (32%).
In addition, 35% of respondents said they would like to learn practical skills, 33% believe there is a better work-life balance and 26% enjoy the sense of pride that comes from creating or fixing something.
The survey also found that 34% have considered switching industries to become a tradesperson, including 46% of men and 28% of women.
It also revealed that 61% think working in a trade is a “cool job”, while 55% say their perception of tradespeople is more positive than five years ago. A third of respondents also feel that working in a trade is something to be proud of.
When asked which trades they would most like to pursue, painting and decorating ranked highest (32%), followed by electrical work (20%) and landscaping (20%).
“This current interest from young people could turn out to be very significant for the future of the UK construction sector, so we feel it’s important to provide the right support. The trade industry is in the midst of a generational shift, with interest in apprenticeships rising and Gen Z starting to favour hands-on careers over traditional university pathways,” said Sarah Hartland, Head of Marketing at Draper Tools.
