“... he said it was the next generation of skilled trades...”
I saw the same in the defense industry. I was surrounded by older people. There was a dearth of young qualified engineers and machinists. Part of the problem, I think, was the dot com bubble. Schools all over dropped their trades programs because parents wanted their kids to come up with an internet idea and be an overnight millionaire. Nobody wanted a plumber for a son.
Only now is the local junior college offering trades courses. I can’t say what high schools are doing. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was too expensive and too risky to start shop classes.
There are only two high schools in the area that have technical trade-centered training facilities. The other schools will farm their kids out to those facilities. They attend class in the morning and then are bused to the “career center” in the afternoon.
On a somewhat brighter note, a good number of the young people I have had interaction with have expressed an intent to take up welding. Someone must have told them there is good money in welding.