A Montana Perspective, “Gen Z Shuns College”

As usual, Evelyn Pyburn had some interesting info to share from the Big Sky Business Journal. Check out these numbers in her report, "Gen Z Shuns College."

Pyburn cited a report by National Public Radio featuring data from New America, a Washington think tank. According to the report, Generation Z is being called "the toolbelt generation' as half of them are discovering they can get well-paying jobs and learn a skill that will provide interesting and challenging careers without going to college, and without the crushing debt of getting a college diploma."

The Education Data Initiative, as Pyburn shared, found that the average cost of college had more than doubled in the US in the 21st century. College enrollment has declined over the last 10-15 years, while vocational-focused community colleges have seen a 16% increase from 2022 to 2023.

I love this concept of "the toolbelt generation." Our oldest son is a junior in high school and we are so proud that he landed an apprenticeship working in construction this summer. We need builders. There are good jobs and career paths waiting for kids that don't require a college degree. Every kid doesn't need to get a 4 year liberal arts degree.

For me, college worked. I've always wanted to go into broadcasting, and specifically talk radio. I studied broadcast journalism at Howard University and The University of Montana (UM). UM had a great radio-TV department. That worked for me. I knew what career path I wanted to go into. That doesn't necessarily work for everyone.

It's great to see members of "the toolbelt generation" chart their own path that doesn't require racking up a massive student debt obligation.