Life & work · 2026 survey
Trade Job Desire
Which of the following comes closest to how you think about working in a skilled trade?
31% of young men want a skilled trade job for themselves, 13% already work in one, and 35% would take one if they had to.
Topline, all respondents
- It is something I would want for myself31.1%
- It is something I would take if I had to, but not what I want35.2%
- It is not for me14.8%
- I already work in a skilled trade12.5%
- Unsure6.4%
Most common answer
It is something I would take if I had to, but not what I want
Share
35.2%
Respondents
800 registered voters, men aged 18 to 30
The numbers
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| It is something I would want for myself | 31.1 |
| It is something I would take if I had to, but not what I want | 35.2 |
| It is not for me | 14.8 |
| I already work in a skilled trade | 12.5 |
| Unsure | 6.4 |
Embed
<iframe src="https://youngamericanmen.com/embed/2026/trade-job-desire" title="Trade Job Desire, Young American Men Survey 2026" width="100%" height="480" style="border:0;max-width:48rem" loading="lazy"></iframe>
Citation
The Lafayette Company, Young American Men Survey 2026, “Which of the following comes closest to how you think about working in a skilled trade?”. 800 registered voters, men aged 18 to 30, fielded by Cygnal, September 15–18, 2026, margin of error ±3.46%. youngamericanmen.com/data/2026/trade-job-desire
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