As tuition costs at four-year colleges rise and nearly $2 trillion in student loan debt burdens Americans, many young people are reevaluating the value of a traditional bachelor’s degree in favor of hands-on work.
Last year, vocational school enrollment surged by 16%, marking a peak level since the National Student Clearinghouse began tracking these numbers. Generation Z is now being referred to as “the tool belt generation.”
Traditionally dominated by men, the trades are seeing an influx of young women. According to the Department of Labor, in 2020, 11.6% of apprenticeship program graduates in the U.S. were female.
“It’s crucial for people to understand that doing hands-on work can lead to higher earnings, better career opportunities, a happier life, and a more fulfilling family life in the long run,” stated Victoria Carl, a 25-year-old car repair shop owner from Albany.
Victoria Carl: ‘I own my own repair shop’
At just 25, Victoria Carl owns and manages her own automotive repair center. “When they told me I couldn’t do it, that motivated me even more,” she shared with The Post about her journey into automotive repair. With financial backing from her parents, at 21, she took over an existing shop, renaming it Carl’s Advanced Automotive and Truck Repair Center in Albany.
By the age of 25, she employs four full-time technicians and actively works alongside them, expecting her annual net sales to exceed $1 million this year. Growing up around cars—and influenced by her family’s connection to the previous shop owners—Carl felt drawn to this career path from an early age.
Bri Loomis: ‘I helped build the Bills stadium’
Now 19 years old, Bri Loomis commands large trucks for the New York State Department of Transportation. “My dad always encouraged me to pursue anything I wanted,” she explained. Working on drainage and ditching crews, she also manages salt and snowplow operations during the harsh winters of Western New York.
Before embarking on this career path, Loomis participated in a BOCES program during her last two years of high school, where she discovered her passion for heavy equipment operation. Despite initial skepticism from others, she strongly pursued her goals and recently contributed to the construction of the Buffalo Bills stadium. “I enjoyed my time on the project but opted for a more home-based job for better work-life balance,” she noted.
Shauna Irving: ‘Women are building their cities’
At 33, Shauna Irving serves as the youngest president of the women’s club within Local Union No. 3 of her electrician’s union, where she aims to encourage more women to join the trades. Raised in Brooklyn with a father who was a sheet metal worker, she admired his creations and decided to become an electrician after high school, enrolling in the Nontraditional Employment for Women program in Manhattan.
Irving’s journey has not come without challenges, but she persevered through personal setbacks and completed her apprenticeship in 2019, now earning $62 per hour plus benefits. She has witnessed significant progress as more women enter the field and is grateful for the support of her male colleagues, stating, “While some may doubt my ability due to my gender, many are very encouraging.”
Emiley Filuta: ‘This was my dream since I was 5’
Emiley Filuta, a 17-year-old from Troy, has longstanding ambitions to work in automotive, inspired by her father and grandfather, both mechanics. “I’ve always loved helping them fix cars,” she shared. Enrolled in a two-year Automotive Technologies program at Questar III BOCES during high school, she has gained hands-on experience as part of a Youth Apprenticeship Program at Rensselaer Honda, earning $17 per hour.
Filuta’s experience has reinforced her belief in the value of a trade school education. She plans to pursue an automotive degree at a community college and is confident that a career in trades will provide lifelong opportunities. “I enjoy solving problems with cars, and it feels incredible to know that I have this capability,” she expressed.
