More Teens Than Ever Are Questioning the Traditional College Path. Here’s What That Could Mean for Your Child’s Future.

College enrollment has declined over the past ten years. As tuition rates soar, high school graduates are exploring a wider variety of options than the traditional college route of the past. Many teens are deciding that overwhelming levels of student loan debt are simply not worth it. Instead, they are opting in to skilled trades, technical fields, and careers that don't require a college degree. In light of this, many parents wonder: “How can I help my teen make the right decision for their future?”

We speak with Geoffrey Scott, Senior Hiring Manager and Career Coach at Resume Genius. Scott gives us his unique perspective on how these choices affect young people's chances in the real-world job market.

Why 30% of Gen Z is Looking at Blue-Collar Work

Gen Z is coming into adulthood in a much different world than the generation before them. Today's high school graduates have many things to consider. These include college costs, the bleak risk of losing their jobs to AI, and lower college acceptance rates.

Scott tells us, “When we surveyed job seekers this year, 30% of Gen Z respondents said they were seriously considering blue-collar work, which generally involves attending a trade school or doing an apprenticeship. This shift seems to be driven by the current job market — if the high cost of a college education doesn't pay off in the form of a high-paying job opportunity, then what's the point?”

Scott continues, “The state of the job market is further exacerbated on social channels like Reddit, where users complain about sending out hundreds of applications with no response. This doesn't even take into account the AI narrative of replacing entry-level work, which makes white-collar jobs seem even more uncertain.”

How Teens Can Present Freelance and Business Experience to Employers

Scott gives us advice on how young people can use their non-traditional work experience to strengthen their résumés. He suggests listing freelance work, apprenticeships, or starting a business on their resumes as work experience under a “Relevant Experience” header.

Scott says, “For each example, they can label the type of experience it was (freelance work, contracting, etc.), the timeframe, the general role title (if applicable, e.g., ‘Freelance Writer'), and then write bullet points below each entry to explain what they accomplished and the skills or tools they used.”

The Hidden Value of the Collegiate Experience

If your teen is considering skipping the traditional 4-year college path, you might wonder if there are differences between college graduates and candidates who took an alternative path. Scott says, “Yes, college is an environment that's hard to simulate elsewhere — not just as a place to sharpen critical thinking skills but as a place to develop the social skills necessary to thrive in a workplace. From my experience, college graduates have adapted faster and held their own working across different teams better than candidates who we've hired without bachelor's degrees, and I credit that success partially to their collegiate experiences (rather than the type of degree itself).”

Helping Your Teen Evaluate Costs and Future Opportunities

Experts agree that the best way to help your teen decide which road to take is encouragement without pushing. Think of yourself as a coach, offering tools to help them research, without providing the answers for them. Scott says, “Just be educated about the pros and cons of the different paths available to them, and be empathetic toward their interests.”

You can help your teen make informed decisions by doing some number crunching. Scott says, “Get into the numbers (costs, job opportunities, etc.) and be realistic — while not all teenagers are able to wrap their mind around what student loans will look like for them in 10 years or longer, the cost of in-state vs out-of-state tuition is stark and easier to comprehend (I thank my 17-year-old self every day for landing on the former).”

Even if your child chooses a trade school over a university, you still need to consider the cost. Scott explains, “Trade schools aren't free either — understanding the investment cost (in terms of years, dollars, and effort) and weighing it against the outlook for various jobs heading into the future (can dig through BLS data) can help a parent and their teenager(s) make the choice that's most likely to lead them toward a fulfilling career.”

Finally, Scott tells us, “Parents can help their teens prepare for the future by having frequent open and instructive conversations about personal finances.”

The Changing Landscape

Young people can't overlook the effect AI is having and will continue to have on the job market. Scott explains, “The hiring landscape is completely different from what it was even five years ago, so as AI continues to disrupt hiring and the job market, both parents and teens should stay up to date on viable pathways for employment.”

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