Why Gen Alpha is still interested in hands on jobs in the age of AI

Age of AI? Almost 9 in 10 children say they actually want “hands-on” jobs in the future, according to new research.A survey of 2,000 parents and their Gen Alpha children (ages 5-16) found that children are already thinking about jobs, and most (85%) want a “hands-on” job.Along with tactile work, many kids said they’re interested in having a job where they can help people (90%) and be creative (87%).The study explored how career conversations are playing out between parents and kids, as well as gauging kids’ interest in trade work, and the survey found that conversations about future jobs are happening early and proactively.According to the results, 90% of parents said they’ve already discussed different career opportunities with their child.Commissioned by Red Wing and conducted by Talker Research, the study also found that parents who are talking to their children about careers try to do so pretty early on.Parents polled said that age 9 is the best age, on average, to begin talking to their child about what they want to be when they grow up.And some are getting an extra early head start with it, starting future job conversations with their child as early as five years old and younger (14%).In terms of future career paths, many parents echoed the sentiment that their child could be “anything they want to be.” Most (70%) said they would be likely to encourage their child to pursue a trade/blue-collar career.And the likelihood of encouragement towards blue-collar jobs increases with parents who themselves do trade/blue-collar work (80%).Parents said they’d be likely to encourage trade/blue-collar work because there’s a good work/life balance (49%) and an opportunity to earn a high income (42%).And children shared how they felt about the line of work, too, with 68% of kids polled knowing what trade/blue-collar jobs are.Among those children, sentiments about trade work are overwhelmingly positive.

They said they think trade/blue-collar jobs are go...