Also the physical toll of working in a trade can't be underestimated.
My brother is 4 years younger than me, dropped out of high school, and makes a TON of money mowing lawns and doing pools and HVAC work in Florida.
That lifestyle ages you fast though. I have plenty of energy to be physically active after work and have no aches/pains to speak of. I wouldn't give that up for the money he makes. And that physical divide is only going to get bigger as we age.
Indeed, the trades people who are my age, mid 50's, tend to be broken and hobbling. It might work in a country with a strong safety net, retirement system, and health care system, otherwise forget it. Trades people have a double whammy of working in a weak-labor country to begin with, and then having to work for typically small family owned businesses that skirt the labor laws and offer no career opportunities for non family members.
But the trades also include indoor trades such as medical technicians and assistants.
My brother is 4 years younger than me, dropped out of high school, and makes a TON of money mowing lawns and doing pools and HVAC work in Florida.
That lifestyle ages you fast though. I have plenty of energy to be physically active after work and have no aches/pains to speak of. I wouldn't give that up for the money he makes. And that physical divide is only going to get bigger as we age.