A few months ago, I was back at my old university, talking to prospective sixth-form and college students about studying the arts and the careers it might lead to. The group was made up of teenagers from underrepresented backgrounds, all with that glint of ambition in their eyes and a desire to improve their circumstances. After the talk, they showed me their impressively early LinkedIn profiles, already showcasing their talents for future employers. I expected questions about whether an arts or a STEM degree would be more valuable, but I was caught off guard by something more pointed: whether going to university was worth it at all.
That question keeps coming up, as the graduate recruitment crisis and overwhelming student debt paint a picture of diminishing returns. Those of us who work with young people increasingly wonder whether we can, in good conscience, encourage them to get a degree. The options presented to them often seem like snake oil, so is it any surprise that young people feel disillusioned and misled?
There was a time when university was seen as a reliable engine of social mobility. This idea was championed under New Labour, with then Prime Minister Tony Blair announcing in 1999 his goal for “50% of young adults to enter higher education in the next century”—a figure that stood at just 20% in 1990. The thinking was simple: a knowledge-based economy would create the jobs of the future, and it was the country’s duty to prepare young people for it. A more highly skilled workforce would boost global competitiveness, drive economic growth, and provide a clear path for working-class young people to enter the middle class.
But the future has arrived, and the jobs haven’t. University participation has increased, with the 50% target for under-30s reached in England in 2017/18. Yet professional opportunities haven’t kept pace. We’re now seeing the worst graduate job market “in a generation,” with AI threatening entry-level roles and adding to the uncertainty. Even the “big four” accounting firms—Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG—have cut their graduate intake. The students I met spoke with well-founded scepticism. I could tell them about the careers I and my peers built with our degrees, but they already sensed a harsh truth: no matter how bright and ambitious they are, they’ll enter a job market that feels impenetrable. So, what should they do?
A growing consensus suggests university numbers should fall, with almost half of the British public believing too many people go. One idea gaining traction is that, to outpace automation, young people should learn a trade instead—after all, a computer can’t fix your pipes or wire a house. Suella Braverman, Reform UK’s education spokesperson, talks of overturning Blair’s target so that 50% of young people go into trades instead (though I doubt she imagines her own children among them). In a way, the rise of AI could set us on a path toward a blue-collar revolution.
Some who’ve already chosen that path are smiling. Joshua King, a London electrician who promotes trades over university on TikTok, told me that despite getting good grades, he chose to learn a trade for the practical experience and skills. He says more students and graduates are approaching him for career advice. “People feel like it’s more achievable to go down that route and make good money,” he says.
It’s easy to tell young people to learn a trade, but not all will be interested in such a career. And without diminishing the value of trade work, these roles still don’t carry the same social prestige—King admits he still gets judgmental looks from white-collar workers on the train when wearing his scruffy work trousers. So young people receive mixed messages from society: go to university andYou could end up burdened with debt, or become a plumber and face social judgment. There’s also the reality that some blue-collar jobs are at risk from automation. As the Financial Times notes, there is little sign of a “blue-collar boom” strong enough to reverse the long-term decline in traditional skilled manual work. The data still favors a university degree for economic prospects: in 2024, 87.6% of working-age graduates in England were employed, compared to 68% of non-graduates, with median salaries of £42,000 for graduates versus £30,500 for non-graduates—though it’s worth noting the graduate earnings premium has been shrinking in Britain.
The idea that degrees are becoming irrelevant to employers is also exaggerated. According to Felicity Halstead, founder and CEO of the charity GoodWork, which helps underrepresented young people navigate the job market, degrees are still used as a filtering tool. She recalls a young person who spoke with summer interns at a tech company and felt frustrated: despite having comparable computer science knowledge, all the interns had degrees, putting the non-graduate at a clear disadvantage.
There’s a real risk that degrees could become something only encouraged for those with family wealth and security. This would deter talented young people who lack the financial cushion or social status to insure themselves in the job market, effectively squeezing them out and giving further advantage to those already privileged.
My friend Adrian didn’t have the chance to go to university as a teenager due to his background, though he knew he was capable. Without a degree, he felt shut out of many professional roles and stuck in customer-facing jobs. Later, he attended a Russell Group university as a mature student, graduated with first-class honors, and now works in policy. “Imagine if I had internalized the message that ‘university isn’t for someone like you’?” he says. “I never would have been able to study, stretch my intellectual abilities, or develop research skills. There are a lot of young people in the same position.”
Higher education allows young people to deeply engage with a subject, live independently, and better understand themselves. It would be a mistake to conclude that, just because university is no longer a guaranteed ladder to a job, it’s not worth pursuing at all. It may seem unfashionable, even irresponsible, to suggest that young people should go for personal enrichment—but we also shouldn’t frantically push them toward or away from certain paths based on short-term labor market forecasts and an increasingly unpredictable future.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Navigating the University vs Trade School Dilemma
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Whats the main difference between going to university and learning a trade
University typically offers a broad theoretical education leading to a bachelors degree Learning a trade involves handson skillspecific training often through an apprenticeship or technical college leading to a certification or license
2 Isnt a university degree always better for earning potential
Not necessarily While many highpaying careers require a degree many skilled trades offer strong stable salaries with little to no student debt Some tradespeople can outearn university graduates especially early in their careers
3 I feel pressured to go to university by my familysociety What should I do
This is very common Have an honest conversation about your interests and the realistic outcomes of both paths Research and present solid information to show youve thoughtfully considered your options
4 How do I even know what Im interested in
Try job shadowing informational interviews or short online courses in fields youre curious about Career aptitude tests can also highlight strengths you might not have considered
5 Is it true that trades jobs are just backup plans
Absolutely not Skilled trades are respected essential careers that build and maintain our society They are primary fulfilling career paths for millions not consolation prizes
Advanced Practical Questions
6 What are the hidden dangers of the university path
The major risks are high student debt without a clear indemand career to pay it off potential for underemployment and the stress of choosing a major before you have realworld experience
7 What are the hidden dangers of the trade school path
Potential risks can include physical wear and tear on the body over time economic cycles that can affect constructionmanufacturing and the need to run your own business to maximize income
8 Can I switch paths later if I change my mind
Yes but it comes with a cost in time and money Many skills are transferable A tradesperson can later pursue a business or engineering degree
