Reports from employers and education groups show growing Gen Z openness to skilled trades amid white-collar entry-level job declines and high college costs. Ford and other major employers reported unfilled technician roles paying six figures; community college vocational enrollment has risen and surveys show more families view technical education as a viable path. Voices from the field, including a 55-year automotive technician in Arkansas, highlight cultural barriers and weak institutional pathways into trades. Workforce analysts warn that without stronger partnerships between industry, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs, high-paying blue-collar roles will remain unfilled. Why it matters: universities, community colleges and workforce development entities must coordinate to design credible, credit-bearing career pathways and employer-aligned credentials that scale to fill demand and provide alternatives to four-year degrees.