MORRISTOWN, NJ, December 10, 2024 – Skilled trade professions are facing a significant labor shortage as many of the current workforce retires. An estimated half million workers are needed to replace the retiring professionals, according to Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). This need has driven the urgency to attract and train new apprentices to an all-time high. The good news? Gen Z has expressed a strong interest in vocational education and fulfilling skilled labor positions.
During recent years, Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) has demonstrated a growing desire to work in skilled trade professions. Offering income stability and job security, the skilled trades have gained favor among Gen Z, finding 73% of those surveyed in a Thumbtack report on skilled trades expressing significant respect for these careers—second only to medicine.
Notably, 68% of those surveyed believe that success in the workplace no longer requires a college degree. This shift in mindset is further reflected in rising enrollments in community colleges with strong vocational programs, which saw a 16% increase from 2022 to 2023. Furthermore, Gen Z students who choose a vocational program over a traditional 4-year university will also avoid joining the over 43 million people in the United States who are in substantial student loan debt.
In this apprenticeship, I have gotten to learn directly from a mechanic and work with him every day.
Dusten Tittel, Schindler Apprentice
Despite the interest, there is a stark shortage of new skilled trade talent in the US. Applications for technical jobs dropped by 49% from 2020 to 2022. Additionally, 58% of survey respondents worry about the industry’s ability to attract future employees. Yet, this does not prevent current trade workers from expressing their passion for the profession, with 94% of current skilled trade workers indicating satisfaction in their roles and reporting that they would encourage family members to pursue similar paths.
In the elevator industry, union officials with the IUEC promote hands-on learning through their elevator technician apprenticeship. The 4-year apprenticeship can be challenging but rewarding, as illustrated by Alejandro Martinez, who is in his second year of the program in the Dallas-Fort Worth area: “This apprenticeship has been all about working hard and being unafraid to ask questions. Throughout my time working with my mentors at Schindler, I have found many opportunities to learn more about the work elevator mechanics do and build confidence in my abilities. It was difficult to be selected by the union for this apprenticeship, but now I am in the elevator shafts with my mentor helping make projects happen. Those who find success in this program are the people who aren’t afraid to pick up the tools and work alongside their mentor to solve problems. I’m excited for the career ahead and glad I made the choice to take on this work.”
Martinez and many other aspiring elevator technicians are excited about the opportunities this career brings. With the rise in vocational program interest, some Gen Zers found their way to skilled trades after attending a traditional college and finding themselves desiring a hands-on approach—like Dusten Tittel, a first-year apprentice also in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. When asked about his path to the program, Tittel shared, “I originally started in a construction management program in college. After two years, I realized my goal was to be part of the work and not in the office. I wanted hands-on training to what the work was. In this apprenticeship, I have gotten to learn directly from a mechanic and work with him every day. I’ve watched and assisted with things like re-roping elevators, learning the tools necessary, and troubleshooting errors on-site. It’s hard work but I enjoy it.”
The positive perception and increased interest from Gen Z in vocational education and skilled labor offers a promising outlook to the skilled trades gap. By fostering and supporting this interest through targeted training programs and outreach, companies reliant on skilled labor can secure a robust and dedicated workforce for the future.
For insight into the rigorous work elevator technicians perform daily, you can view this segment from Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe: Escalator Repair. The elevator industry’s apprenticeship program is overseen by the National Elevator Industry Education Program and managed locally through a joint apprenticeship committee consisting of labor and management representatives.