[Dalewyn]

>It’s become an expensive and completely unnecessary prerequisite for the general public,

This isn't a "problem" per se because that is literally what we drilled into multiple generations of people.

"Go to college if you don't want to flip burgers forever.", as was oft said. We will become a country of white collar service industries, it was oft said.

We demanded everyone go to college, everyone thus went to college regardless if it made any logical or financial sense to do so.

Meanwhile, the trades are seeing fewer and fewer students and apprentices, blue collar jobs are seeing fewer and fewer applicants, and people who actually gave some thought to going to college or not generally have had happier lives.

The problem isn't everyone going to college, it's the notion everyone should go to college.

[toomuchtodo]

We required them to go to college (employers require the checkbox with no exposure to the cost), didn't pay for it (funds to schools reduced to lower taxes), made them take out loans that aren't dischargeable (what other obligations are not dischargeable in bankruptcy besides tax claims, spousal and child support, etc?), did not provide any guarantee for a job mandating the obligation, and did all of this when folks were too young to understand the trap they were sent into. We should be ashamed of this, but in America, this is a Tuesday.

You must internalize the externality of requiring a college degree to obtain a job, and shift the cost to the demanding parties. Universal access to community college and robust apprenticeship pipelines are also potential solutions. Otherwise, people will just give up [1] [2] [3], as it is the rational course of action. Think in systems. With all due respect, this system is garbage and we can do better if improved outcomes are desired.

[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/01/neets-and-new-unemployables-...

[2] https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2024/05/23/is-coll...

[3] https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/03/economy/young-americans-givin...

[devwastaken]

The trades are not "struggling". They have the same administrative incompetence issue as uni's. Unions in the long term destroyed your ability to work in a trade by requiring indentured servitude to get your certificate. The one you need to pull any kind of permit or do basic work.

Government and unions have intentionally choked the life out of trades by ensuring very few can get into it. It's a club, and you ain't in it.

The solution is effective - nullify duration requirements, replace with in person testing.