Almost half of young people believe learning a trade is a quicker route to earning £100,000 than going to university, according to a new survey.
The poll of 2,000 adults under 28 found 47 per cent thought training in a job such as plumbing or electrics would lead to a six-figure salary faster than studying for a degree.
In addition, 53 per cent thought they would be able to buy a home quicker if they became a tradesperson than if they went to university.
And 33 per cent said the threat of office work being replaced by artificial intelligence had made them consider a career in a trade.
The survey comes amid mounting pressure on the Government to reform the student loans system, with many graduates saying interest is accruing faster than they can repay it.
Some graduates on Plan 2 loans – taken out between 2012 and 2023 – say they were sold a lifetime of debt to go to university without realising the impact.
Almost half of young people believe learning a trade is a quicker route to earning £100,000 than going to university, according to a new survey (file picture)
The poll of 2,000 adults under 28 found 47 per cent thought training in a job such as plumbing or electrics would lead to a six-figure salary faster than studying for a degree (file picture)
Sarah Hartland from Draper Tools, which commissioned the research, said: ‘With such high university fees and interest rates, our research shows there is a growing number of young people looking at apprenticeships as the best way forward for them.
‘We know that in there are critical skills shortages in many trades, so this may turn out to be a real positive for the future of the UK’s construction sector.’
The survey, carried out by OnePoll.com, revealed 40 per cent thought an apprenticeship was a better option than university for school-leavers, with only 19 per cent selecting university and the rest unsure.
Unsurprisingly, 34 per cent of those polled said they were keen to avoid student debt, while 32 per cent said they wanted to start earning sooner.
The study also found 34 per cent have considered moving industries to become a tradesperson.
Broken down by gender, 46 per cent of men said this compared with 28 per cent of women.
Meanwhile, 25 per cent said they would rather work in a hands-on role than be sat at a desk, and 35 per cent said they would like to learn practical skills.
In addition, 26 per cent said they enjoyed a sense of pride in creating or fixing something.
Perceptions are also changing, with 61 per cent saying trades are ‘cool’, and 55 per cent saying their view of manual careers is more positive than five years ago.
And 55 per cent believed working in a trade is better for mental health, with 26 per cent also thinking tradespeople have more fun than office workers.
The most common trade jobs people would join if they were to move industries are painting and decorating, with 32 per cent choosing this, followed by electrics and landscaping – each chosen by 20 per cent.
Of those polled, only 14 per cent own their home, with 39 per cent living with their parents.
And of those that were university students, 29 per cent said they would change their decision to join higher education if they could go back in time.
Ms Hartland added: ‘Young people have an increasingly positive perception of working in a trade.
‘In an era of screen fatigue and rising burnout, it’s easy to understand the growing appeal of hands-on roles that potentially offer a different work-life balance.’
Interest on the tuition and maintenance loans under Plan 2 is charged at RPI plus up to 3 per cent.
Ministers are expected to U-turn imminently over their decision to freeze until 2030 the salary threshold at which graduates start repaying their loans at £28,470.
