Gen Z: The blue-collar generation? | On Balance

“Gen Z got the memo” when it comes to choosing a trade over a college diploma, according to Mike Rowe. The longtime host of “Dirty Jobs” is now CEO of mikeroweWORKS Foundation, which helps young people who may not want to go to college to instead go to trade school and learn a skill that might pay more than $100,000. He tells NewsNation’s “On Balance” fewer people look at plumbing, welding and other skilled trades as a “vocational consolation prize.” Mike will have more to say in a one-hour special edition of CUOMO on April 10.
"On Balance with Leland Vittert" takes a critical look at some of the day's hottest subjects. Weekdays at 7p/6C. #OnBalance
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[@sinistan1002]

guess what trade jobs cannot be replace by ai or agi

[@risingphoenix1484]

I made $90k/yr when I was 29yrs old back in 1999. And now as a VP for a biotech company…. I wish I just became an electrician instead of a PhD and a MBA….. I probably would have just did the MBA…and an engineering degree to have my own business…. I’m doing great now financially with myself earning in the high 6 figures if you include my stock options but working for corporate America really does eat at your soul, and it leads to nothing but burn out.

[@timothylopez8572]

🤦Told ESSENTIAL WORKERS to "get a real job". Let that sink in.

[@phteven9610]

Funny how 4 years ago those people were hailed as heroes during covid, are now being told to get a real job 🤣🤣🤣

[@troynewell7800]

Young people are eager to work hard and long if they get paid double after 8 hrs/40 hrs on top of good benefits, and election laws that don’t allow their employers to compromise the legislative parties from acting in middle class interests. People will work harder if they feel empowered.

[@MegaSuperfatguy]

At one point I agreed 200 percent with Mike on work ethic and the "show up early leave late" mentality. That's when I was younger. I still agree with having a good work ethic and take pride in what you do, but companies need to change their attitude big time. With the exception of one company, all of the ones I worked for began to forget that it's THEIR privilege to have me working for them. Classic example of give them an inch, they try to take a mile. Because of that consistent greed in my employers, I had to change my ethic to "my time is money and you're paying for every second of it." It's not that people don't want to work. People don't want to be taken advantage of.

[@bobloblaw9362]

More than one way to make a living. Not everything has to be divisive.

[@timandsuzidickey9358]

Awesome. !!!!!

[@SB-ev2yl]

🎉🎉🎉

[@stoneneils]

This has got to be the funniest title ever..oh yeah..gen-z..the blue collar generation. Good luck with that consdidering how tough they are.

[@flipsidefishin7822]

Far from it. Gen x is that last blue collar generation.

[@adolforomero9611]

Someone’s hurt

[@ralphdicesare3936]

Mike appreciate all the great work you do but I hope these gen Zs don't think they're going to come in there and skip the apprenticeship program starting at the bottom of the Ring like I did when I became an apprentice butcher in 1973 learning how to handle sides of beef learning how to break them down and how to cut them all at $10 an hour $400 a week 3 year apprenticeship then you became a journeyman butcher and if you continued on you become a master butcher and a chef of my own restaurant when I did but it took hard work long hours cold dark days and determination and I did it so thank you for your encouragement all these young people there are no shortcuts in life

[@ralphdicesare3936]

One more thing Mike if they don't know how to use their phone properly then I have to be taught that a phone is not something that is part of your work duties every 5 minutes checking to see if somebody gave you a text or something like that keep the phone in your pocket for emergencies that's what it's all about not looking at it for 20 30 minutes and then going back to work 68 years old and the kids they got working today unbelievable if they didn't have a phone in their hand