雅各布·帕尔默在北卡长大时对技工工作只知道“又脏又累、很低端”，但经历疫情期间一年的远程学习后，他在大一结束就退学、做了两年电工学徒，并于2024年创业。如今他23岁，拥有仓库和皮卡车，并在YouTube上有超过33,000名订阅者；他预计今年营收155,000美元，其中10%来自YouTube，并将“带薪学习”和“巨大工作安全感”视为相对AI冲击白领入门岗的优势。
这种转向也体现在对大学价值的判断和毕业生处境上：盖洛普显示，如今只有约三分之一的美国成年人认为大学“非常重要”，而2010年这一比例约为四分之三，约四分之一的人对高等教育“几乎没有”或没有信心。与此同时，美国公立大学四年制学费在经通胀调整后的30年里已“翻倍以上”，研究还发现采用生成式AI的企业在美国和英国往往雇用更少的初级白领；11月，美国20–24岁本科学历者失业率为6.8%，低于仅高中学历者的8.6%，但毕业一年后超过一半仍处于“高学历低就业”，且其中73%在10年后仍未摆脱。
与此相对，技能型蓝领需求与培养正在加速：美国社区学院两年制职业与技工项目自2020年以来入学增长近20%，在册学徒人数据劳工部统计在2014–2024年间翻倍以上，电工年薪中位数为62,000美元而前10%超过100,000美元；2024年STEM本科收入中位数为98,000美元、文科为69,000美元，而升降机技师为106,580美元。芯片行业研究预测美国2023–2030年新增岗位中近60%将因缺人而空缺，其中40%是仅需两年制学位的技师岗；英国短缺35,000名焊工且焊工队伍有一半预计在2027年前退休，而学位学徒制竞争火爆——BAE每年培训超过5,000名学徒（其中三分之一为学位学徒），最近一轮31,000份申请争夺1,100个名额，TSMC也在亚利桑那为计划建设的6座晶圆厂启动带薪学徒并资助社区学院课程以避免长达25年的学贷负担。
There’s a significant shift towards vocational training, with enrollments in 2-year community college programs rising nearly 20% since 2020, and apprenticeships doubling from 2014 to 2024. In the realm of wages, STEM professionals earn an average of $98,000, while arts professionals average $69,000. Interestingly, lift technicians average $106,580, and electricians have a median salary of $62,000, with the top 10% earning over $100,000.
The demand for chip jobs is notable, with 60% predicted to remain unfilled from 2023 to 2030, particularly for technicians with 2-year degrees. The UK faces a shortage of 35,000 welders, with half the workforce planning to retire by 2027. In Switzerland, two-thirds of students pursue vocational training after 11 years of schooling.
A story of success illustrates this trend: a 23-year-old electrician started his own business in 2024, quickly amassing 33,000 subscribers and generating $155,000 in revenue, with 10% coming from YouTube. He emphasizes the benefits of paid learning and job security, particularly in the face of AI advancements.
Source: Ditch textbooks and learn how to use a wrench to AIproof your job?
Subtitle: Generation Z is becoming less invested in university and more interested in skilled trades
Dateline: 12月 18, 2025 05:43 上午