Technical and Trade Schools NAICS 6115

Jan 12, 2026 - Gen Z Workforce Leans Toward Trade School

• About 42% of Gen Zers are currently working in or pursuing a blue-collar or skilled trade job, according to Resume Builder. Technical and trade schools are likely to benefit from increasing interest in blue-collar and skilled trade work. About 30% of those choosing to train for such work said that trade jobs offer better long-term prospects, while 19% said they were unable find a job in their original field of study at a college or university. About 50% of Gen Zers surveyed by Indeed in April 2025 said that college wasn’t worth it. Indeed cited wage benefits, degree saturation, and rising living costs as potential problems with a traditional higher education path.
• Two-year public institutions with a focus on vocational programs saw double-digit growth for the second year in a row in 2024, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC). These schools now make up nearly 20% of the enrollment in two-year programs, up from about 15% in 2019. Enrollment at two-year institutions with a vocational focus increased 16% year over year in 2023 and nearly 14% in 2024, according to the NSCRC. Enrollment at vocational and trade training institutions increased almost 20% from the spring of 2020 through the spring of 2025 to 871,000 students. The increasing enrollment in trade schools reflects a significant shift in educational preferences among young adults, driven by a desire for job security, financial stability, and the acquisition of practical skills, according to JC Bowman, Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee.

• Trade occupations tend to have fewer layoffs than other industries, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in a high-paying profession like tech or business are four times more likely to experience a layoff than those in building, manufacturing, and similar jobs. Trade and vocational programs vary widely in cost. The average tuition at two-year institutions ranges from $4,000 per year at public institutions to $19,500 at private ones, according to The National Center for Education Statistics.
• Technical and trade school revenue increased 10.3% year over year and 12.4% quarter over quarter in Q2 2025, according to the US Census Bureau. Technical and trade school industry employment has rebounded following a steep, pandemic-driven drop in 2020 and is slightly above pre-pandemic levels in late 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Technical and trade school revenue is forecast to increase at a 4.52% compounded annual rate from 2025 to 2029, faster than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. Institutions generate the majority of revenue by charging tuition and fees for technical and trade educational programs. Schools may also receive contributions, gifts, or grants from public or private sources.