Higher Education in the Toolbelt Generation

The four-year college degree is widely considered to be a pathway to a sustainable economic future for young people. This very often holds true, but a four-year degree is not the only pathway to success. A career in construction, for example, provides an equally viable pathway to a sustainable economic future and often does not require accumulating educational debt. This fact is well-known within the industry but is not universally understood.  

Recent research shows an abundance of opportunities exist in multiple construction fields and even when compared to college graduates, these careers are paid well. The median starting salary for four-year degree college graduates is $47,000, yet student debt is on the rise and the average public university student borrows $32,362 in loans. A growing number of young people are looking to find a satisfying career that pays well. Several careers in construction earn an average of more than $65,000 per year, making it a viable pathway to consider.    

A career in construction involves a unique blend of training and hands-on experience. This type of higher education can be explored in multiple ways through different programs and institutions. 

One way is through apprenticeships, a tried-and-true model of training that has become more popular as an alternative to a traditional higher education track. These structured programs provide valuable on-the-job training related to the technical and academic competencies that apply to the job. In the United States, the construction industry represents more than 32% of all active registered apprentices across all industries. Apprenticeships give individuals the opportunity to develop skills for a career while earning a paycheck, often in the same amount of time as earning a two- or four-year college degree.  

Programs provided through technical or community colleges are another option that can be considered. Technical or community colleges offer smaller class sizes, affordability, convenience and opportunities to gain specific experience that can be applied directly to careers in construction upon graduation. Many institutions utilize curriculum from NCCER, providing graduates with industry-recognized education and workforce craft training.  

Career and technical education (CTE) programs offer similar benefits as technical or community colleges, as well as specific career-focused education — making them a reasonable option to prepare secondary, postsecondary and adult students with the hard and soft skills needed to build a successful career. CTE classes prepare students for a variety of high-skill, high-wage and high-demand careers through hands-on learning in a low-pressure academic environment that can encourage performance and improve the likelihood of graduation.  

With Gen Z’s growing interest in the trades and shifting opinions about the value a traditional college degree offers all learners seeking continuing education, there are many opportunities to embrace alternative pathways to higher education.    

Discover more about how NCCER supports apprenticeships, technical or community colleges and CTE programs, and start a career in construction today.