Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and now Generation Z…each of these generations has certain defining characteristics that broadly describe the people born into each specific time period. Which generation do you belong to? What stereotypes of your generation do you agree/disagree with?
For example, Gen Z generally includes those people born between 1997 and 2009. The first generation to be raised in the era of the World Wide Web, Gen Z tends to be characterized by being tech-savvy given that they never knew a world without smartphones and the Internet.
That’s why many find it surprising that a decidedly non-technical item is increasingly being connected to Gen Z. We’re talking about the humble toolbelt. In a world dominated by advanced technology, like artificial intelligence (AI), experts believe that Gen Z could ultimately become known as the “Toolbelt Generation.”
In a recent For Construction Pros article by Chase Manning, the author notes that currently Baby Boomers and Gen Z each account for about 14% of the construction industry workforce. The problem is that, “[a]s Baby Boomers retire, they take with them decades of accumulated skill, leadership and institutional knowledge.”
This problem has become known as the “skills gap,” because there currently aren’t enough new workers to replace those retiring. Manning traces the origin of our modern labor shortage back several decades: “In the 1990s and 2000s, a push to make college the default pathway for students, known as the ‘college for all’ movement, resulted in high schools pulling back on Career Technical Education (CTE) credits.”
In the decades that followed, “technical and vocational programs los[t] funding and visibility in secondary education.” Moreover, even students who participated in CTE programs were bombarded with the “college for all” messaging and were frequently “steered them away from the trades at graduation” by parents and school counselors.
The unfortunate fallout has been “a limited supply of skilled workers, just as retirements among seasoned tradespeople are accelerating.” However, due to rising college costs and a renewed focus on the trades in the U.S., we may finally be about to turn the tide on the skills gap thanks to Gen Z.
As Manning points out, “[a]fter decades of decline in vocational participation, the emergence of Gen Z in the workforce has created a surprising and welcome turning point for the skilled trades. In 2024, The Wall Street Journal labeled Gen Z the ‘Toolbelt Generation,’ noting a 23% increase in enrollment in trade programs and a 16% rise in enrollment at vocational-focused community colleges.”
Why the change? Manning believes that “[i]ncreasingly, young people are drawn to work that offers immediate earnings without having to assume the insurmountable debt resulting from tuition.” It also helps that parents, as well as the federal government, now see careers in the trades as viable options with considerable benefits.
To help Gen Z fully realize its potential as the “Toolbelt Generation,” though, significant work needs to be done at the high school and community college level to ensure that students interested in the trades are acquiring the hands-on skills that industry needs to fill open positions that are increasingly technology driven.
Unfortunately, many of the key players in industry and education aren’t sure where to start. Tackling the challenges of training students for modern manufacturing careers can seem daunting. Fortunately, there are experts available to guide them through the process.
Industry leaders and educators can benefit from the expertise of the technical training experts at Amatrol. Amatrol has been the world leader in technical education for more than four decades now. The experts at Amatrol can provide needed guidance on everything from training and hands-on skill development to industry-standard certifications and apprenticeships.
The experts at Amatrol have been working alongside industries and educational institutions for years to design training programs featuring eLearning curriculum and hands-on experience with trainers equipped with industrial components students will encounter on the job. For more information about how Amatrol can help train the “Toolbelt Generation,” contact an expert at Amatrol today!
