I work on the ground as a structured cabling specialist. I also do hardware support (parts swaps and installs, point of sale mostly) I am over 40. I am so busy I can’t keep up.
There are kids in this field. Lots of them. Companies I deal with who will pay my rates say the kids are morons. Even at much lower rates they won’t use them. These idiots will bill 10 bucks an hour as a contractor.. 10 bucks?!?!? I’ve seen their work, it’s awful. Wire everywhere. along the floor, strung like a clothes line, equipment hanging by wires.. Yikes is all I can say. They are not even worth the 10 dollar bill.
We’re screwed.
If your company was smart (assuming you're not self-employed) they'd give you some input on young hires and a bonus for training them, and then apprentice them to you. (...and do all the same for their competent "old timers".)
Part of the problem I've seen from the "seeking employment" side of things is that the companies are loathe to do any training on their new hires, wanting "cookie-cutter candidates". (Might be different in your line of work.)