JOHN YANG: As the average cost of college in the United States soars, more young people are being drawn to skilled trades.

It's part of a career rethink.

Among Gen Z who've been called the tool belt generation, here's special correspondent Christopher Booker.

THOMAS STEWART, Westchester Community Center: There's seven different types of harnesses, right?

So you're going to help him dress out.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): The task is simple enough.

Put on a safety harness, secure the ladder and climb up.

THOMAS STEWART: Identify three items that you see up there.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): This exercise is all part of an Introduction to construction course at Westchester Community College.

And for the students, it's a first step toward a career in the skilled trades.

The certificate they get from completing this class opens the door to any trade they may be interested in.

THOMAS STEWART: You've got to start somewhere.

And this program right here is the kind of thing that will get your foot in the door.

They can build upon this and get into more specific training.

Plumbing, electrical, HVAC.

How did you guys make out at the career fair?

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): Thomas Stewart, a retired steam fitter and member of New York's Local 21 Plumbers and Steam fitters, has been an adjunct instructor with Westchester Community College for the past seven years.

Since COVID, he says the number of students walking into his course has increased substantially and the rise is happening nationwide.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse, the number of students in vocational focused community college has risen by nearly 16 percent since 2020.

THOMAS STEWART: Somehow, word must have gotten out, and I've known this for years, that there is a shortage of skilled tradesmen.

And I think the younger generation is Realizing that they don't necessarily have to go to college to make good money.

Skilled tradesmen in this country can make six figures.

I'm taking it nice and easy.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): Through Local 21, Stewart receives health care and retirement benefits and its effort to keep its rosters filled, Local 21 offers apprenticeship programs to train young people and everything to do with pipes from plumbing to sprinklers.

And when they're an apprentice, that's where you get to a scenario where you actually will be working and studying.

THOMAS STEWART: Earn as you learn, we like to say it like that, because you can work your eight hour shift during the day and usually it's two, sometimes three nights a week, you'll have to go to school.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: When someone enters the apprenticeship program, do they receive benefits as well?

THOMAS STEWART: Absolutely.

Right from the start.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: So healthcare?

THOMAS STEWART: Yeah.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: In the pension?

THOMAS STEWART: Yeah.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): Well, the stories vary from student to student.

Some of the young people who come through Stewart's classroom are not coming right from high school.

CARSON SCHROCK, Student: Right after high school, I went into college at Penn State.

I spent about two years there.

I was studying data science and astrophysics, but eventually I dropped out during the pandemic.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): After a bit of time at home, Carson Schrock found an entry level position as a machinist.

CARSON SCHROCK: Originally they had me just doing some odd jobs around the shop trying to find what my role would be.

And eventually I got moved onto this 9 axis CNC machine.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): An advanced manufacturing process.

Computer Numeric Control or CNC, allows a machinist to create complex and complicated parts.

Schrock spent the last year with Westchester Community College working to earn a roster of CNC certifications.

So when you were in high school was pursuit of a trade at all part of the conversation?

CARSON SCHROCK: Not really, no.

It was mostly about like what field of computer programming I would be in.

Data science was close to what I wanted to do with the programming and making things, but I wanted to do something with my hands, something that left me with like a physical thing.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): While Schrock came to the trades after two years in college, Stewart says the renewed interest has made its way to high school as well.

SARA HALL, White Plains High School: So in our department, it was a concerted effort.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): Sarah Hall is an assistant principal of White Plains High School in White Plains, New York.

SARA HALL: We've been bringing in local tradesmen.

We had local three in.

We had our sheet metal workers in.

We're trying to bring them in so we as adults can learn more about the trades so that we can better inform our kids on what their options are.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: Has the school started to offer more by way of what would be historically called vocational technology classes?

SARA HALL: Yeah.

So we're going to start demolition on our 75 acres and we're building a career and technical building.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: So you guys are really all.

SARA HALL: So we're excited.

Yes, yes.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER: What about the conversation with parents?

Has that changed?

SARA HALL: Parents are open, but there are times where we have tough conversations with those parents and say, you know what, this might not be the path that you thought you would want for your child, but they're going to be successful no matter what they do.

We just need to support them in getting there.

But I do think that parents' perspective is going to start changing as society changes.

Right.

I think that's important about having these conversations.

Conversations is we need to demystify the traits.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): In 2023, Hall says 11 percent of White Plains graduates either went into the military or into a trade.

Last year it was 13 percent.

SARA HALL: Your top tier college is over 90 grand a year.

Kids are starting to look at that.

And society says you have to go to college to be successful.

What we're trying to say is that's not always 100% accurate.

Having a college degree does help you financially.

However, money doesn't equal happiness.

CHRISTOPHER BOOKER (voice-over): With reports that the U.S. construction industry alone will need to attract over 450,000 workers to meet industry demand this year, many in Gen Z may well be able to find out if Harris is correct.

For PBS News Weekend in Westchester, New York, I'm Christopher Booker.