St. Johns County has the highest college graduation rate in Florida, with 52.6% of adults age 25 and older holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to U.S. Census data.
That figure even surpasses counties hosting Florida’s major universities—Alachua County (50.4%) for the University of Florida, Leon County (48.8%) for Florida State University, and affluent concentrations like Palm Beach County (41.7%).
But this data coexists with something of a counter-movement: a rising number of young adults nationally and in Northeast Florida are opting for skilled trades and blue-collar roles over typical white-collar professions.
A May 2025 survey by Resume Builder found that 42% of Generation Z respondents nationwide—those born between 1997 and 2012—are currently working in or pursuing careers in skilled trades.
Notably, this includes 37% of Gen Zers with bachelor’s degrees, highlighting a shift in career priorities among even college-educated young adults.
Within Northeast Florida, education levels vary widely.
Following St. Johns County’s leading 52.6%, Duval County’s college graduation rate is 34.3%, Flagler County is 33.2%, Clay County is 31.5%, and Volusia County is 29.2%. Putnam County reports the lowest rate at 16.6%, based on 2023 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Florida saw an 8% increase in enrollment in career and technical education programs during the 2022-23 academic year. Apprenticeship programs in the state are at an all-time high, with nearly 20,000 apprentices and pre-apprentices enrolled.
Locally, Jacksonville-based Miller Electric exemplifies this trend, with approximately 80% of its workforce coming from apprenticeship programs, demonstrating growing demand for skilled trades in the region.
Northeast Florida’s economic development strategy also emphasizes growth in sectors like advanced manufacturing and logistics, which rely heavily on skilled labor.
The Resume Builder survey reveals multiple reasons more Gen Zers are reaching for the hammer instead of the mouse.
Among college graduates in trades, 30% believe these careers offer better long-term prospects than their degree-related fields, while 19% report difficulty finding jobs in their chosen academic areas. Concerns about automation are significant: 25% believe trade jobs are less likely to be replaced by artificial intelligence, and 45% value the independence and flexibility these roles offer.
For Gen Zers without college degrees, financial motivations dominate. Sixty percent want to start earning income sooner, and 40% wish to avoid student loan debt. Thirty-six percent believe trades offer better long-term job security, and 31% think they can earn more in trades than with a traditional degree.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reports that electricians, HVAC technicians, and heavy equipment operators earn average starting annual salaries ranging from $47,000 to $60,000, with steady job growth projected over the next decade.
The survey also highlighted a significant gender gap: 48% of Gen Z men are working in or pursuing trades, compared to 30% of Gen Z women.
For Northeast Florida’s Gen Z crowd, success may increasingly come not from a four-year degree alone, but from a combination of education and hands-on skills.
