There are a few professions for which college would be essential. But there are plenty of jobs for which college is “essential” only in the mind of HR. Plenty of work can be done by an 18-year-old if On The Job training is provided. The college debt is a crime.
Also, many of the best jobs are “blue collar”. Be a machinist. A welder. A plumber. Electrician. There is a lot out there, but many young people are “too good” for that kind of work, which is why they may be unemployed, in debt, and living in Mom’s basement.
I have a son who graduated with a mechanical engineering degree in Dec 2020. He is now working as a plumber.
My son got a bachelor’s degree in business and worked in high tech sales development. He hated it. He is now in residential remodeling construction, works hard, sees results and is a LOT happier. If he starts his own firm, his business degree will be a big benefit.
I like Mike Rowe’s “Dirty Jobs”, but he skirts something that would be an issue in any place but the most rural: How do wages compare with the cost of living where these jobs are available?
I see people discuss a shortage of truck drivers in the economy, but when jobs like that offer salaries around $35,000 then you really can’t live in many places with any real standard of living. When he visits rural places showing poultry or meat-packing jobs, those may offer pay for those areas that is OK - or maybe just offer locals an opportunity to remain in the area instead of fleeing for other work. Otherwise, I don’t know how many of those jobs would support a family (if that is still a goal). Some definitely could (plumbers, electricians); others not so much - the salaries fell as we turned from manufacturing to a service/”McJobs” economy. Everyone seems to know blue collar millionaires, but the fact is that Americans have always done all kinds of jobs - for decent wages. If there was money (and stability) in some of those fields, people would flock to them.
I worked in HR for a Tier-1 auto stamping plant. Back in the 70's and 80's our training dept. would go to jobs fairs hosted by colleges in an attempt to recruit grads into our management training program.
Typically they would be placed out in the shop as line supervisors.
From my viewpoint, that was a waste of time since the best supervisors were the hourly workers who actually worked production and were promoted to supervision.