WorkLifeFuture: Guidance for parents supporting emerging adults in the age of AI & automation
🎇 Happy Tuesday!
Let’s get honest about this:
Most families say they believe all work is good work. But our conversations with our kids often reveal a quiet hierarchy.
College first.
Trades as a fallback.
Military as “only for certain kids.”
You’re here because you know that default thinking no longer matches reality. WorkLifeFuture’s Tuesday Newsday is your weekly reality check on what’s actually changing, what isn’t, and how to help your kid without panic — or pressure.
I genuinely believe it, too: All work is good work. And the dynamic between young people getting jobs in trades vs. sending 300 resumes without a callback? It’s evening the playing field.
🧠 What’s Inside
Why ranking post-high-school paths backfires
Three real shifts in how young people are entering work (with real sources)
A script for keeping conversations open — not loaded
🎓🛠️🪖 College, Trades, Military — What’s Really Changing
Here’s what the data — and reality — actually show.
👉 College is no longer a guaranteed on-ramp
I am still a fan of the things that a college experience brings — even when a young person enters the trades.
Plus, recent reporting shows unemployment among recent college graduates (roughly ages 22–27) has climbed to multi-year highs, even as older workers fare better. Many grads are underemployed — working roles that don’t require a degree while continuing to search.
📌 Meaning: A degree can still be valuable — but it no longer guarantees a smooth start.
Source: AP News
https://apnews.com/article/college-graduates-job-market-unemployment-c5e881d0a5c069de08085a47fa58f90f
👉 Skilled trades offer faster entry to real work
As white-collar hiring slows, more young adults are smartly choosing skilled trades like electrical, HVAC, welding, and construction — drawn by paid training, earlier earnings, and sustained demand. These aren’t “backup plans.” They’re direct routes into productive adulthood.
Plus, I firmly believe that many of these jobs will be more future resilient than many AI-replaceable jobs. Millions of Americans make a great living in the trades.
📌 Meaning: These paths trade prestige for momentum — and momentum matters early.
Source: Associated Press
https://apnews.com/article/community-college-trade-school-075d7e7e2b0dc659920a9be6d054c8b2
👉 The military remains one of the clearest early-career pathways
For some kids, military service can mean structured training, stable income, healthcare, leadership development, and strong post-service employment outcomes — especially in technical, logistics, and cyber roles.
And further, it can also lead to more options after military service. As a hiring manager, resumes of veterans always received additional consideration.
📌 Meaning: This is not a detour. It’s a different kind of launch.
👉 Employers are prioritizing skills over credentials
Across sectors, employers are shifting toward skill-based hiring — especially as automation and AI reduce tolerance for “learn on the job” roles. Demonstrated ability increasingly matters more than the pathway used to acquire it.
📌 Meaning: The question isn’t which path sounds best — it’s which path builds real capability right now.
Source: Deloitte, 2025 Global Human Capital Trends
https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends/2025/closing-the-experience-gap-through-talent-development.html
🛠️ One Parent Coaching Move to Try This Week
Shift the conversation from ranking paths to evaluating outcomes.
When your kid says:
“I don’t think college is for me.”
Instead of:
“But what about your future?”
Dispassionately try this:
“Tell me more about what you’re thinking. I know many happy, admirable people who’ve skipped college. What would you want to be doing in two years?”
Then walk through any option — college, trade school, or military — using the same neutral framework:
What would you learn?
Who would you work with or learn from?
What doors would this keep open next?
This week, try asking:
“If we stop ranking paths and just look at what each one helps you build, which feels most aligned right now?”
Then pause.
And listen.
Your job isn’t to defend a path.
It’s to remove judgment so real thinking can happen.
📬 One Ask
Know a parent stuck in this exact conversation? Send them this link:
👉 worklifefuture.com/subscribe
It might help more than you realize.
We’re just getting started — and you’re early.
🍾 To all paths that lead to good work — and kids finding their own way,
Barry
