Episode
Gen Z Is Choosing Trades, Raising Prices, and Knowing Your Worth
- Podcast
- The Deconstruction Podcast
- Published
- Jun 9, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3637
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://share.transistor.fm/s/b4639162
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Summary
Something is shifting in who's showing up to job sites. Gen Z is entering the trades faster than anyone expected, and the reasons go deeper than just a labor shortage stat. This episode gets into what's actually pulling younger people away from university and toward skilled trades, whether it's going to last, and what it means for trade business owners hiring right now. Kosta, Johny, and Charlie also get into the pricing conversation a lot of contractors avoid. With 67% of small business owners raising or planning to raise rates in 2026, the question isn't whether to raise your prices, it's how to do it without losing the clients you've worked to keep. They break down how to communicate a rate increase, how to identify the clients who aren't worth keeping anyway, and why competing on price is usually the wrong game. If you're running a trades company and you're still charging what you charged two or three years ago, this episode is worth your time. Jobtable helps contractors manage quotes, invoices, scheduling, and client communication in one place, keeping operations tight so you can focus on the work. 👉 Learn more at https://www.jobtable.com New episodes every week. Subscribe so you don't miss one. 00:00 – Intro & Jobtable shoutout 01:45 – Gen Z entering the trades: real shift or overstated stat? 05:10 – Why money (not just AI fear) is the real driver 09:30 – The stigma around trades is gone 14:00 – Smart people are building trade businesses, not just working in them 18:30 – How to tell clients you're raising rates 25:00 – Comparing apples to apples: why cheap bids cost more in the end 43:00 – Why contractors still get lowballed (and what to do about it) 51:00 – The professionalism gap and defending your price 58:30 – Banner question: No plan B's