Could Gen Z Be the Next Toolbelt Generation?

Lower college enrollment and higher vocational school numbers suggest members of Generation Z may enter the workforce as a “toolbelt generation,” according to a new report from ADP.

The Roseland, New Jersey-based payroll management services company tracked the number of Americans in blue collar, white collar and service jobs and found that between January 2019 and May 2024, the blue-collar share of employment increased faster for workers in their early 20s than for workers aged 25 to 39, signaling that the younger generation may be turning to the trades.

Nonetheless, the share of those workers has remained flat since 2022, indicating a plateau or potential reversal of the trend. Still, construction needs new workers, and experts believe Gen Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — is a good fit.

Here, Construction Dive talks with Kit Dickinson, construction industry executive at ADP, about what makes this generation right for construction and how the field can capitalize on the emerging workforce.

The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: It seems that Gen Z is entering the blue-collar workforce in bigger numbers than in the past. What about the timing is right for construction to take advantage of this new group?

A: The way I see it is we’re really at an inflection point, where the Gen Z population is embracing that belief that if you want to be part of a growing industry and have career growth potential, job security and good income possibilities, that path may best be achieved by going into the trades. 
They’re seeing their peers go to traditional four-year colleges. They read all about tech layoffs and office jobs being replaced by artificial intelligence, about people coming out with a lot of student loan debt. So, that pendulum is swinging toward pursuing construction work for many of this generation. 

It’s been great to see the construction industry doing a much better, more creative job of promoting the benefits of joining the trades. For example, dispelling some of the old misconceptions that if you go into construction, you’re going to be holding a shovel, holding up highway traffic or swinging the same hammer for 30 years. That’s absolutely not the case. 

They’re doing an effective job of touting income potential and growth opportunities and how technology is an active part of the jobsite, the impact that you can make to your community. All those things really resonate with Gen Z. 
We’re also seeing more people going into high schools or even junior highs to invest in internships and promoting competitions, other ways to promote the workers of tomorrow today, because they’re needed in great volume.

To read the rest of this Q&A from Construction Dive, our sister publication, click here.