Not everybody has to grow up to be a lawyer or investment banker. Some people want to work in satisfying and rewarding jobs. From Mary Prenon at The Epoch Times via zerohedge.com:
With college costs climbing and artificial intelligence reshaping office work, a growing number of Gen Zers are turning to construction, a new report shows. According to industry professionals, “They’re showing up in droves.”
The share of Generation Z workers—those aged 18 to 28—in the construction labor force more than doubled from 2019 to 2023, rising from 6.4 percent to 14.1 percent, according to an Oct. 10 report by the Home Builders Institute.
The share of millennials (age 29 to 44) grew to 37.7 percent from 35.7 percent over the same period. Conversely, the share of Baby Boomers (age 61 to 79) dropped to 14.2 percent from 20.6 percent as older workers moved into retirement.
The median age of construction workers during this period was 42.
The escalating cost of college, competitive wages in construction, innovation in construction technologies, and growth potential are prompting the younger generation to consider a career in the industry, according to the report.
“Even as a slowing housing market has eased some pressure off the tight labor market, attracting skilled labor, especially younger generations, remains the primary long-term goal for the construction industry,” the report states.
As of the end of 2023, approximately 71 percent of the U.S. construction labor force consisted of Gen Xers and millennials.
