Gen Z workers tell their blue-collar stories on TikTok

5️⃣ Explain Like I'm 5

Imagine you have a big box of crayons, and each crayon is a different job people do—like a blue one for fixing cars or a yellow one for building houses. Now, imagine you have a magic window (like TikTok) where you can show everyone how you color with your crayons. Some young people, called Gen Z, are using this magic window to show others how they use their blue and yellow crayons. They're showing that you don't need to go to a special school (like college) to make cool art (or have a cool job). They make videos that help everyone understand and appreciate the art they create every day at work, not with crayons, but with tools and machines!

🔟 Explain Like I'm 10

Let's say college is like a big, famous cooking school, but not everyone wants to be a chef. Some people prefer to be bakers or pizza makers because that's what they love. Now, young workers from Generation Z are using TikTok, a popular app where people share short videos, to show what it's like to work in jobs that don't require a college degree—these are called blue-collar jobs. They're sharing stories about their daily work, like fixing cars, building homes, or wiring electricity. This is cool because it helps others see that these jobs are important and interesting. It's like these young workers are opening a new book that many haven't read before, showing that there are different paths to success, not just the one through college.

1️⃣5️⃣ Explain Like I'm 15

In recent times, there's been a big push for everyone to go to college after high school. But college isn't the best path for everyone. Enter Generation Z, the group of young people born roughly between 1997 and 2012. Some of them are choosing to take a different route—blue-collar jobs, which are typically manual labor jobs that don't require a college degree. With the power of social media, particularly TikTok, these young workers are filming and sharing their day-to-day work experiences in these jobs.

This move is significant in a few ways. First, it challenges the traditional narrative that success mainly comes through a college degree. It also highlights the value and dignity of blue-collar work, which has often been overlooked or undervalued in society. Plus, it's changing how people view these jobs, making them more visible and appreciated. Economically, it's crucial too, as many industries are facing worker shortages and need skilled labor. By sharing their stories on TikTok, these Gen Z workers are not only shaping their personal careers but also influencing the job market and societal norms around work and education. It's a fresh reminder that there are multiple paths to a fulfilling and successful career, and each has its own set of challenges and rewards.