Refers to a trend that the skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest generation of American workers (often called “Gen-Z”), many of whom are skipping a traditional college path after high school graduation in favor of the trades. Gen Z’s embrace of trades and vocational education reflects a pragmatic approach to career readiness—one which emphasizes skills over traditional college degrees. This trend is fueled by a shortage of jobs in the trades, rising pay, and new technologies in fields such as plumbing, welding, machine tooling, HVAAC, solar, construction, and the electrical occupations. These are all leading to new perspectives on the benefits of working in the trades. Educational paths to the trades are changing as well. At the high school level, this has resulted in many locations to acceleration of a three-track system that allows students to explore their interests in the trades and gain practical skills: (1) students take 2 years of foundational courses including math, science, history, and language (General Education); (1) in junior year, students choose two potential career tracks (Career Tracks); and (3) senior year focuses on a particular area of study related to a chosen career path (Specialization).