(NewsNation) — Gen Z is bucking the system, putting away its textbooks and picking up tools to sign up for a trade.

Last year, the United States saw a 23% jump in students studying construction programs and a 16% jump in vocational programs. Trade schools often cost less than traditional colleges, and in many cases, you can get paid while you learn through various apprenticeships. Gen Z is at the center of this trade career Renaissance.

Carpenter and online influencer Matt Panella joined “NewsNation Now” to discuss why trade work appeals to the younger generation.

Panella builds custom homes in central California.

“My grandfather started in the ’70s,” Panella said. “My dad took over, and I kind of got into the media side of it to showcase what we do. I think it’s really cool. Being able to take a pile of wood and turn it into someone’s dream home — it’s something that’s always fascinated me.”

Penella’s videos show how his builds develop from start to finish. He’s netted more than 1 billion views and had educational videos put into curricula, he said.

“People can get the same type of insight they would get on a job site, except for on YouTube,” he said.

Building a career in the trades isn’t as hard as some think, Panella added.

“Everybody is hiring right now,” he said. “You can call any contractor you want to. I would suggest finding somebody that has a credible business that you could step into and learn the trade, learn what you want to do. … If you don’t like what you do, you can bounce around to a different trade, and I think that’s the joy of the industry.