University or entering a trade? A recent study suggests the trade route is far more fruitful than once thought.
Tauawhi Bonilla is 19-years-old and is a first year law and business student at university.
"I want to be a lawyer but I also want to be an entrepreneur," he says.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Luke Williams is training to become a builder, "I'm a hands on kinda guy so paper work is not really my thing."
While it'll take Mr Bonilla five years to finish his course, Mr Williams is looking at training for three years before he can start earning money.
Economist Ganesh Nana, who completed a study on career paths reckons they're both neck to neck until around the age of 25.
"At that stage pretty much both of them are starting from scratch, but the trades apprentice programme earns a bit more while you learn. So there will be a bit of a head start for the person who takes the trade option," he told TVNZ1's Seven Sharp.
Fast forward a few years, Mr Williams is building houses and in the lead. Mr Bonilla on the other hand, is packing up his study books but racking up his debt.
"The university student is catching up but the trades and apprentice is still a little ahead by that stage. The university student is busy paying off the student loans so you're not quite accumulating financial wealth," says Mr Nana.
"Over the latter part of that period the university graduate in terms of their extra earnings begin to kick in quite strongly. Over the end of the period you get the university graduate fractionally ahead, but it is marginal."
At the end of their careers, both are expected to end up at the same place, retirement.
"So financially it's an even balance if you are going to make a career choice, don't just focus on the dollars, make sure it is something you are interested in and something you enjoy," Mr Nana says.
"The big finding really is that you are way ahead of anybody who leaves school and goes straight into work," says Mr Nana.
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