Young people see trades as the fast track to success, new study finds

With debt concerns and job uncertainty shaping career choices, more young people are looking to the trades as a smarter path to financial security, according to new research from Draper Tools. 

The survey of 2,000 adults under 28 revealed that nearly half believe becoming a tradesperson is a quicker route to earning £100,000 than pursuing a university degree. More than half (53%) also think working in a trade would help them buy a home sooner, while only 15% said higher education offers a faster route to the property ladder. 

Thirty-four per cent of respondents said they’ve considered switching industries to join the trades, with electrical work among the most popular options – alongside painting, decorating, and landscaping. 

The findings also showed that attitudes toward the trades are changing fast. Six in ten young people now see working in a trade as a “cool job”, and over half said their perception has become more positive in the past five years. Many cited the influence of social media, TV programmes, and a growing awareness of the hands-on satisfaction and work-life balance trades can offer. 

The research was commissioned as part of the launch of DXPulse, Draper’s new 12V cordless power tool range designed specifically with apprentices and tradespeople in mind. See the full DXPulse range at www.drapertools.com/dxpulse.