a tremendous shift in society back to placing a high value on skilled trades soon as the avail- ability of skilled labour becomes more and more scarce. Gen Z (1997-2012) is currently quite the range from school-aged kids to those beginning to enter the workforce. This generation has a very different view of the value of work as it relates to themselves and the world around them. The idea of working with the sole measure of success being productivity appears to be gone and has been replaced with a goal of self-reali- zation. I have mixed feelings about this; I’m not saying that enjoying your work isn’t important, however, some tasks are not desirable or partic- ularly motivational, but they still need to be done and should be done with pride. Becoming a pro- fessional of any kind is commendable but it can be tedious as many skills take decades to refine. Oftentimes, it takes real-life practice outside of the classroom alongside dedication and grit. Gen Z has the power to change the direction we are headed and realize the importance of a good work ethic and reverse the cycle of jumping from
job to job, searching for the next best thing. This comparison between generational views on work ethic, education, and profession just scratched the surface. It is not to judge, but rather to spark insightful thought and conversation. Unfortunately, we are still living in a time when doing physically demanding jobs, such as con- struction trades, is considered something you do if you are not smart enough to pursue higher education. We need to change the narrative because the stigma associated with the trades remains. It’s ironic because, without people who have the physical skills and the brains to do them, the entire world would grind to a halt. For context, my father was one of the most skilled heavy equipment operators I knew, he took pride in his best job every day. I continued down the line of higher learning by becoming an engineer, however, as an entrepreneur and owner of a ren- ovation company, I continue to see tremendous value in skilled trades. My motivation to become a Red Seal Carpenter was to help lead younger
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VOL 23 ISSUE 1 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 23 ISSUE 1
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