Two years ago, Zechariah Osburn faced the daunting task of filling out the Common Application for college. Although he wasn’t excited about the traditional school structure and had always performed well academically, he felt immense pressure from his parents and society to pursue an undergraduate degree. However, late one night during his senior year, he had a realization: “I felt like a fraud,” he shared.
Osburn was unsure about his career direction and lacked the financial resources to attend college. Instead of taking on student loans and spending time in a party atmosphere, he decided to develop his landscaping side business into a full-time endeavor. Today, at 20 years old, he owns Z’s Exterior Services, providing lawn care, mulching, and power washing in northern Virginia. He has hired several employees and continues to expand his business. He even enjoys aspects of the college experience when visiting his girlfriend.
While Osburn isn’t particularly passionate about landscaping, he finds fulfillment in running his business and pleasing his customers. “The effort you put in directly reflects your rewards,” he remarked. He recognizes that investing years and money into a degree doesn’t guarantee success, especially with stories of graduates struggling under debt and facing tough job markets.
Many in Gen Z are reevaluating the value of college education, driven by soaring tuition costs and uncertainties in traditional job sectors. A 2023 Gallup poll revealed only 36% of respondents had confidence in higher education, a marked decline from 57% in 2015. Another 2024 survey found just 22% of adults believed college was worth it if it meant incurring debt. Many Zoomers view pursuing a degree as a waste of resources, reflecting a shift in attitudes toward education and employment.
A survey from Handshake indicated that 62% of college seniors familiar with AI tools were worried about automation impacting their job prospects—a concern that’s becoming increasingly relevant as more entry-level tasks are allocated to AI. The job market for recent grads has noticeably worsened, with youth unemployment rates rising from 4.6% to 5.8% in early 2025. Compounding this, rising economic uncertainties and layoffs are impacting job stability for white-collar workers.
Conversely, blue-collar jobs, some of which offer stable six-figure incomes, are appearing increasingly appealing. The share of students in two-year colleges pursuing vocational studies rose from about 15% in 2019 to nearly 20% in 2024. The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies wind turbine technicians and solar panel installers as among the fastest-growing positions, alongside roles in healthcare and tech.
Jennifer Herrity notes the impact of social media on Gen Z’s awareness of different career paths. Online platforms feature various day-in-the-life videos that offer genuine insights into hands-on professions, allowing young people to visualize alternative careers. Osburn himself gained inspiration for his landscaping business from social media, amassing a following of 45,000 on Instagram.
The economic landscape favors trades, as individuals can start earning immediately rather than enduring years of schooling. Entry-level construction jobs can pay around $19 an hour, while electricians and plumbers can earn approximately $29 an hour. Daniels, who left the University of Florida after his freshman year to focus on his pressure washing business, has successfully scaled his startup while paying his employees and managing work efficiently with the help of tools like ChatGPT.
Despite the allure of blue-collar work, college degrees still hold value. In 2024, the median salary for a Gen Z college graduate was $60,000 compared to $40,000 for a high school graduate. The construction sector, among others, is still hiring college graduates as the workforce adapts to evolving market demands. As Gen Z navigates this transitional landscape of labor and education, innovative paths are redefining success beyond the traditional college experience.