Gen Z is changing what blue collar work looks like

Gen Z wants jobs with flexibility and high pay. The last place they're looking are white collar industries. 

The number of students earning an undergraduate degree declined for the second year in a row, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, with nearly 100,000 less young people receiving a diploma in 2023. More students earned a certificate this year than in any of the last ten years, however, revealing a new trend in Gen Z's priorities. 

"For many, the field services industry proves to be recession-proof," says Jeff Davis, SVP of marketing services at software company WorkWave. "This is making the wave of 'dirty jobs' more appealing as the workforce becomes more driven by the trades as a stable and secure option." 

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Even three years post-pandemic, jobs within the field service industry — including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, lawn care and pest control — are still in high demand. For example, by 2027 the U.S. expects a labor shortage of over half a million for plumbers. As a result, the low-end salary for an entry-level plumber is over $40,000. The average salary for an entry-level white collar job is around $50,000. 

When considering ongoing inflation and high tuition costs, Gen Z are more open to career opportunities that divert from the traditional college route. They're also tech proficient, a winning combination in today's service sector, Davis says. 

"As they move towards jobs that are stereotypically rooted in manual labor, they'll be doing so with demands to bring the trades into the 21st century," he says. "It is an exciting opportunity for this new generation to be part of this technological revolution and really have an impact on the future of the industry."

Keeping the example of the plumbing industry, leveraging technology to improve the equipment they use or to shave time off of each job could drastically increase the amount of money people make in these positions — and could also change the previously established social order between blue and white collar jobs. 

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"There will arguably be more opportunity than ever for job market participants to thrive in more traditionally viewed blue collar fields," Davis says. "And while it's still speculation, we can foresee a possible decrease in demand for white collar labor because for Gen Zers just entering the workforce, there's even more to consider now when thinking about what's waiting for them in the future job market." 

Having more young people in blue collar jobs has other implications and advantages outside of just tech innovation. Davis anticipates this new generation will advocate for scheduling systems that allow for more flexible work hours and prioritize work-life balance — something that didn't always seem feasible in labor-intensive industries. 

"Gen Z has a reputation for being vocal regarding their work demands," he says. "We expect to see many of those to become commonplace in the field service industries, which will ultimately benefit the hiring and retention rates in these fields."