[j9461701]

Actually #2 was consumer products and services. Technology in general and software ranked 3rd.

>Now look at long-term health and economic prospects of the two careers, beyod short term satisfaction with survivorship bias.

Economics seems to be the real reason the original poster saw people switch away from manual labor after trying it for a while. Construction workers may be happier and more fulfilled day to day, but software engineers are paid more and it's hard to say no to a larger, more consistent paycheck.