Gen Z’s Pivot to the Trades Is a Warning for All Career Paths

This article discusses a significant shift in career paths, particularly among Gen Z, who are increasingly opting for trades over traditional university degrees due to the eroding value of certain white-collar professions. The author argues that artificial intelligence (AI) is a primary driver of this change, as it automates skills once highly valued, such as information recall. Consequently, the traditional education-to-employment model, likened to a predictable "Circle of Fifths," is being replaced by a dynamic and unpredictable job market where human judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving are paramount. The piece proposes a new "navigational toolkit" for individuals, emphasising self-authorship through storytelling, developing an "Identity Blueprint" (a personal compass of values and strengths), and adopting an iterative "GlidePath" framework for career decisions. Ultimately, the article suggests that true job security in the age of AI lies in adaptability and the capacity to navigate uncertainty, rather than in a specific job title. Read the article.About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and assessable in classrooms and boardrooms — to ensure AI users show their process and own their decisions. His cognition protocol, the Context & Critique Rule™, is built on a three-step process: Evidence → Cognition → Discernment — a bridge from what’s scattered to what’s chosen. Context & Critique → Accountable AI™. © 2025 Greg Twemlow. “Context & Critique → Accountable AI” and “Context & Critique Rule” are unregistered trademarks (™).