More young people are choosing fast, vocational pathways over four‑year degrees: a case study shows a Gen Z trainee who left college for a 21‑month aviation technician program and now earns over $100,000 fixing aircraft. The aviation sector projects hundreds of thousands of technician openings in the coming years. Policy makers are responding. England announced plans for new post‑GCSE vocational 'V‑levels' intended to replace some Level 3 BTECs and simplify technical routes. The twin push — students opting for shorter, job‑aligned training and governments creating clearer vocational credentials — is reshaping talent pipelines and could alter college enrollment patterns.