College enrollment is falling, tuition costs are rising, and AI is automating traditional office jobs. But while headlines focus on the crisis in higher education, a different story is unfolding in the construction industry: Gen Z is stepping into the skilled trades. With Baby Boomers retiring and demand for infrastructure, clean energy, and data centers accelerating, trades like electrical, HVAC, and welding are becoming some of the most future-proof careers available. This isn’t just a labor shortage—it’s a generational shift that could reshape how America builds.