The jobs probably aren't disappearing because of AI but because of previous over-hiring and a slowing economy. It seems like a cover story to push people into accepting underemployment.
Kids who used to study electrical engineering, or mechanical engineering or go into finance and accounting, decided all to major in computer science instead, because if you are going to be an office drone, why not be an office drone in the field that everyone is getting 6-figure starting salaries in?
Surely the overabundance of graduates in CS played into the current situation.
Do apprentices really earn that much before they become journeymen? I thought there was some sort of process in place where you got some in the job training at the expense of getting paid less, at least in construction.