This is another recycled version of the "college is a scam" trope that comes around during every recession. I first experienced it firsthand when I graduated smack dab in the middle of the Great Recession of 2008-09. Those who had majored in the so-called "basket weaving" disciplines were doomed, while those in "job-ready" disciplines like comp sci, accounting and finance were also doomed, but marginally less so as they'd bounce back when the S&P500 did.
It's far too simple to say "train to be a plumber" or HVAC, construction, or auto mechanic or whatever people latch on to as "future-proof / recession-proof". The reluctance to take these jobs is not the resistance to doing manual labour, but that lifetime income is limited unless you're the boss.
As with any role in a broadly non-unionized labour market, you only make proper money if you incorporate, strike deals of your own, hire people and pay yourself multiples more than the labour. Otherwise, your time, labour and frankly, bodily integrity is at the mercy of whoever signs your paychecks. And just like every other industry, only a small proportion of workers are cut out to be biz dev or people managers, and as a boss, you need to be able to do both.
Demand for electricians or mechanics will not grow proportionately with growth in electrician training programs, any more than SW Eng jobs did with the growth of bootcamps in the 2010s. The difference was that coding jobs were often paid for on the back of venture capital, or on the back of a giant, profitable corporation. The trades are not like that, you can't be paid more than what the company brings in revenue-wise.
Similar story here, learned to program during the dotcom bust. Everyone including Scott Adams was obsessed with tech being a dead end because of offshoring to India. Starting in mid-00's with no education at 18, I've never had to worry about money or a job. Maybe offshoring made a difference but do I care? Especially early on, companies were thrilled to find someone local who wanted to and was able to code. Just like they're blown away recently by someone who can work without ChatGPT and isn't in the field because mommy made them do it. It's incredible how little things change. But sure, go become plumber, lord knows I need one sometimes.
It's far too simple to say "train to be a plumber" or HVAC, construction, or auto mechanic or whatever people latch on to as "future-proof / recession-proof". The reluctance to take these jobs is not the resistance to doing manual labour, but that lifetime income is limited unless you're the boss.
As with any role in a broadly non-unionized labour market, you only make proper money if you incorporate, strike deals of your own, hire people and pay yourself multiples more than the labour. Otherwise, your time, labour and frankly, bodily integrity is at the mercy of whoever signs your paychecks. And just like every other industry, only a small proportion of workers are cut out to be biz dev or people managers, and as a boss, you need to be able to do both.
Demand for electricians or mechanics will not grow proportionately with growth in electrician training programs, any more than SW Eng jobs did with the growth of bootcamps in the 2010s. The difference was that coding jobs were often paid for on the back of venture capital, or on the back of a giant, profitable corporation. The trades are not like that, you can't be paid more than what the company brings in revenue-wise.