Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” fame recently spoke out on the future of higher education here in the United States, stating he thinks Gen Z will ultimately become the “next toolbelt generation.” We can only hope, right? Our country is in desperate need of individuals to do trade jobs and much of these career paths pay significantly higher salaries than those in white collar jobs. With demand high and not many workers available, opportunities are rife for those willing to work.
Rowe, 62, recently made an appearance on “One Nation with Brian Kilmeade” where they talked about a recent report published by the Wall Street Journal that highlighted how enrollment in vocational training programs is on the rise. And that is some very good news.
According to a report from The Daily Wire:
Kilmeade asked Rowe to comment on the data, which comes from the National Student Clearinghouse. It showed a 16% increase in overall enrollment for vocational-focused community colleges compared to 2022. The Journal also noted an increase of 23% for students pursuing construction jobs and a 7% rise in students enrolled in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and vehicle repair.
While the “Dirty Jobs” star said he wasn’t “ready for the victory lap” after seeing the data, he said that he believes Gen Z is more willing to consider trades, which he believes is positive.
“The color of collars is no longer the thing it used to be,” Rowe commented during the interview, making a reference to the classification of blue-collar versus white-collar workers. “I just don’t think it matters.”
“The idea that the generation that has become the biggest target for entitlements and a lack of work ethic… I mean, these guys are an easy target. They’re snowflakes, essentially. But… we’re the clouds from which the snowflakes fell. And whatever you want to say about Gen Z, they will be the next toolbelt generation. Because the evidence demands a verdict,” he added.
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Rowe then went on to talk about how expensive college is right now as one of the significant reasons for why so many young people are now opting for vocational training instead of going to a university.
“And these kids have been around, and they’re seeing $94,000 a year at Tufts,” he went on. “They’re seeing all of the craziness… Brown and Dartmouth and Harvard. They’re seeing a $52 billion endowment at Harvard. They’re seeing all the craziness that’s constantly in the headlines,” Rowe explained. “And they’re just saying, ‘Look, why do I want to start a career in a major I haven’t even declared yet and go that far into debt to pursue a job that probably doesn’t even exist, when we got 10,000 other jobs over here… that don’t require a four-year degree?’”
During another part of the interview, Rowe brought up how back in the day, people were concerned about technology coming along and replacing blue-collar workers. However, thanks to the creation of artificial intelligence, people are more concerned with white-collar jobs being wiped out.
“The automation thing, you know, it’s funny — not ‘ha-ha’ funny, but interesting that the idea that the robots are coming to displace all of these so-called blue-collar jobs that have been around for 15 years,” Rowe continued. “Now it’s AI, and the target is more white-collar jobs.”
“Look, plumbers are not going to be outsourced,” he added. “Electricians, steam fitters, pipe fitters, the people my foundation tries to assist — they have a level of job security that the article in the Journal is referencing, and it’s a big deal, because those jobs have always been here for the last 20 years, as long as I’ve been doing this, they’ve been open, and it’s starting to tip where we’re literally turning a tanker around with regard to perceptions.”
Mike Rowe for president!
Who’s with me?