A looming trend is being noticed amongst recent high school graduates who are now turning to employment opportunities or choosing technical/vocational certifications over their 4-year or 2-year college counterparts. This paradigm shift was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic with college enrollments witnessing a significant dip, showing little improvements since. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates a four percentage point reduction in college enrollment rates in 2024 compared to 2019.
Simultaneously, vocational or trade schools are gaining increased traction due to their affordable costs and shorter timelines. Google searches for "trade school" grew by 117% and "apprenticeships" grew by 231% since 2021, according to K12, an online homeschool company's analysis. The study also ranked cities based on job prospects for high school graduates not pursuing traditional college, highlighting cities offering high salaried roles, ample trade schools, and increased searches for non-college options.
Despite college degrees proving a worthwhile investment, the perception of a bachelor's degree's necessity is slowly changing among Americans. A survey by the University of Chicago in the previous year revealed an uptake in Americans who believe they can secure a lucrative job with only a high school diploma or a GED, this belief increased to two-thirds compared to half before the pandemic.