Gen Z leads charge for a home ec comeback

FCCLA reports membership growth of more than 57% between 2021 and 2024. Male students now make up about one-third of its members.

A new look at an old subject

Home economics dates back to the 19th century and reached its peak in the mid-1900s. Danielle Dreilinger, author of “The Secret History of Home Economics,” describes home economics as a school for girls, noting many young women trained in kitchen efficiency and equipment later worked in factories during World War II.

As conservatism and the rise of the nuclear family characterized the 1970s and 1980s, the focus of home economics shifted. Classes became about preparing young women to be wives and mothers. Enrollment began to drop, especially as schools spent more on STEM education. Despite rebranding as FCS, a subject for both boys and girls, the Craft Industry Alliance reported that only 3.5 million students enrolled in home economics courses in 2012, down 38% from the prior decade.

College programs and careers linked to home economics have also expanded. PBS reported college majors in fashion, textiles and personal finance expanded between 2020 and 2023. Hospitality majors increased by 12,000 students in California over four years, but declined in other states such as Arkansas.

Why Gen Z is embracing life skills

Gen Z is leading much of the push to bring FCS classes back to public schools. Ranging from 13 to 28, Generation Z has come of age in a digital world among rapid cultural changes and a shifting economic landscape. Their education and early careers differ significantly from those of previous generations.

In response, many teens and young adults are opting for trades and certificate programs instead of four-year universities. A report from payroll company Gusto found there were 2 million fewer students in four-year colleges in 2024 than in 2011, largely due to increasing cost. Additionally, 18 to 25-year-olds make up a growing share of new hires in trades, rising 4% each year since 2019.

Regardless of career plans, some Gen Z students also feel unprepared for adulthood. Students reported to CBC that they lacked skills like managing personal finances, sewing clothes or even doing their own laundry. Some colleges have added Adulting 101 resources and classes, but psychologists and students are asking for that education to begin earlier.

In the face of rising prices and mass production, other Gen Z students are seeking more sustainable lifestyles. Making their own clothes enables them to disconnect from fast fashion. Growing gardens, canning and making homemade chicken stock are ways students say they’re taking control of their food and embracing sustainability.

The modern family and consumer science class

Family and consumer sciences is increasingly valuable as workforce preparation. Culinary courses teach knife skills, advanced cooking techniques and menu planning, preparing students for careers in restaurants or the nutrition field.

Child development classes can prepare students to be future parents, as well as teachers, social workers and child psychologists. Hospitality and tourism programs are also part of the mix, with students learning event planning, hotel and restaurant management and customer service, all skills that translate directly into one of the fastest-growing global industries.

“My food and nutrition class in high school opened a path for me to pursue a hospitality career as an event planner and prepared me for real life after college,” says Bevyn Cassidy, director of California Family and Consumer Sciences Professional Development Project “Thousands of students are benefiting from these courses and the leadership skills taught in FCCLA and are prepared to excel in their families and careers.”

At FCCLA events, students compete in a variety of competitions. They showcase culinary skills in baking, dinner preparation and food innovation. While simple recipes allow them to demonstrate proficiency with basics, students also have the opportunity to impress judges with lemon layer cakes, wedding cake decorations and show-stopping breads. Fashion students design and assemble garments. Winners move on to national competitions with scholarship money as prizes.

Students can also take on leadership and management positions in organizations such as FCCLA or within their own schools. Schools with culinary programs may offer catering services for local events or school fundraisers, allowing students to plan, prepare and serve the entire menu. Whether these students become professional chefs or not, the early leadership skills they develop serve them well in any career.

Challenges for the modern Family and Consumer Science classroom

Despite interest, growing FCS programs in schools offer challenges. Decades of funding cuts and shifting academic requirements left many schools with gutted home ec programs. Many districts lack qualified teachers for these subjects.

When it comes to securing funding, PBS notes that states have previously tallied enrollment numbers differently, focusing on career clusters rather than individual programs. Family and consumer sciences encompasses hospitality, culinary arts, child development, retail management, social services, personal finance and more. Many students also take it for personal growth, further muddying the correlation between enrollment and future employment.

The future of home economics

While home economics electives still compete with STEM classes and college prep, the momentum is notably shifting. A growing interest in careers related to culinary arts, hospitality, fashion and child development, along with a desire to be better prepared for adulthood, creates a new demand. Modern home ec may not look like the sewing and cooking classes of past decades, but Gen Z’s enthusiasm for learning to manage finances, perfect culinary skills or lead their local FCCLA chapter shows that the lessons of family and consumer sciences remain timeless.