What you say is certainly true. But the problem is that the U.S. now lacks enough highly trained people in specialized fields of the hard sciences. We have a plethora of business, arts, and the likes of educational degrees.... but not enough in the hard sciences.
For many years we have been "borrowing" this talent from China, Japan, and India.
The reason for the shortfall you might ask?...Answer..The teachers Unions who have dumbed down both the teachers themselves, the curriculum, and as a result, the children they are entrusted to educate. There are other reasons as well but this is number one.
I know a guy that has been a machinist for 25 years.
He is proficient on CNC maching and has kept up with technology.
However he is 58 years old and no one wants to hire him because of his age (the company he worked for went out of business).
Also the cnc machine jobs are being sent overseas and the ones being offered here now in the states are paying $10 hour. Many machinist jobs in my area start out at $8 hour.
Why go to school for this profession anymore for $8-10 hour?