Almost half of young people see trades as a quicker path to earning £100k | UK | News
More than 3 out of 10 people are considering becoming tradesmen (Image: Draper Tools)
Almost half of young people see becoming a tradesman as a way to earn £100,000 faster than going to university, and many hope it will help them buy themselves a home sooner. Young people are also concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on their future careers, making careers in the professions more attractive for future generations.
A survey of 2,000 adults under 28 found that only 19% of respondents thought it was a good idea to choose a university degree over an apprenticeship. More than a third of those surveyed are keen to avoid mounting student debt, while 40% think an apprenticeship is a better option.
Read more: The No.1 trade to keep you fit revealed – painters and decorators come in last place
Read more: 15 high-paying jobs where you don’t need a degree – and you could earn £30 an hour
Sarah Hartland of Draper Tools, which commissioned the research, said: “It is fascinating to understand young people’s views on going into business.
“With university fees and interest rates so high, more and more young people see apprenticeships as the best path for themselves.
“While everyone should pursue the career path that is right for them, we know there are critical skills shortages in many professions, so this current interest could be a really positive development for the future of the UK construction industry.”
Almost half of men (46%) and more than a quarter of women (28%) are considering changing sectors and becoming tradesmen.
Meanwhile, research from OnePoll.com shows that one in four people would rather work in a hands-on role than sit at a desk. 35 percent like learning practical skills, 33 percent believe they have a better work-life balance, and 26 percent take pride in creating or fixing something.
One in four people prefer to work in a hands-on role rather than sitting at a desk (Image: Draper Tools)
More than 60% think working a job is a “great job” and 55% say their perception of a manual career is more positive than five years ago. More than half of those surveyed believe working in a workplace is better for personal mental health than working at a desk, while 26% think tradespeople have more fun than office workers.
Beyond financial benefits and entertainment, concerns about AI were another factor for young people; 33% said recent advances in artificial intelligence have led them to consider a career in the field. The most common trades people would join if they changed industries would be painting and decorating (32%), electrical (20%) and landscaping (20%).
Fifty-three percent believe that they can buy a house faster if they get a job than going to university, while 32 percent plan to start earning money soon. It was revealed that only 14 percent of the respondents had their own home, and 39 percent lived with their parents. Alarmingly, 29% of university students say they would change their decision to attend higher education if they could go back in time.
Draper Tools’ Sarah Hartland added: “Young people have an increasingly positive perception of working in a job. In an age of screen fatigue and increasing burnout, it’s easy to understand the growing appeal of hands-on roles that potentially offer a different work-life balance.
“With the right tools and support, joining a business can be a very satisfying and rewarding career path, so we are happy to see awareness of this growing.”
