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You might call it fake news, but one man who did a heck of a lot of research into this and turned it into a series of very successful TV shows has actually set up a scholarship program around it.

http://profoundlydisconnected.com/

His response:

http://mikerowe.com/2018/04/ot...

And interested students have until June 4th to submit an application for a scholarship from his foundation:

http://profoundlydisconnected....

It's also worth mentioning that he's been on This Old House this last season, as they've added apprenticing to the shows (which I really like, as they have someone to ask questions about why they're doing something) :

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/i...

Germany has a different system where Trades are not only valued but an integral part of your economy. Starting in the '90s the trades were only for 'losers' and 'dropouts'. Around that same time parents started getting quite upset that their kids were told they weren't university material so we just dropped the middle school sorting hat. There's no such difference as Gymnasium, Gesamtschule, Realschule or Hauptschule in the US. Even the "Sonderschule" students are just placed in a classroom at the Gymnasium in the US.

The good news is that some people and companies have realized this error. "Coding boot camps" and voctech high schools teaching IT and basic coding are starting to make a come back in addition to more traditional trades (Plumbing, Electrician, Contractors, etc). Mike Rowe has a foundation promoting the trades.

This man is doing good work - http://profoundlydisconnected....

You should have your brother check out Mike Rowe's website (the "Dirty Jobs" guy):

Mike Rowe Works Foundation

He has programs with scholarships for young people willing to undertake trade school and corporate sponsored training to learn blue collar skills and then become employed in those professions. Seriously, this is worth looking into for your brother.

"...as long as it isn't taken to ridiculous lengths where wages exceed production." And yet, that's exactly the point. Raise the minimum wage for low-value work above the cost to automate, and businesses will automate. http://profoundlydisconnected....

Mike Rowe nailed it.

For instance, consider taxi drivers, regional and long haul truckers - what happens when they get replaced by self-driving robots? It's certainly a hell of a lot more efficient, but do you think that's going to create new jobs?

These sorts of arguments always are arguments from ignorance. The form, "I can't think of what they will do, therefore they won't find jobs!" No, the answer is you need to think harder.

Mike Rowe has jobs for you.

PROFOUNDLY DISCONNECTED®?

* A trillion dollars in student loans.

* Record high unemployment.

* Three million good jobs that no one seems to want.

The goal of Profoundly Disconnected® is to challenge the absurd belief that a four-year degree is the only path to success. The Skills Gap is here, and if we don't close it, it'll swallow us all. Which is a long way of saying, we could use your help...

http://profoundlydisconnected....

Check out what Mike Rowe has to say about this problem, he has some really great insight.

Now my thoughts: Unfortunately we as a society look down on skilled trades. I remember when I was 16 my dad asked me if I wanted to work with my back or with my brain, implying that there was something wrong with skilled labor. If you show aptitude for math or science in High School your counselor will dissuade you from shop or auto repair and push you into AP math and science with the intent of you going to get a STEM degree. Our public school systems, especially the wealthy ones, almost exclusively push 4 year universities as the only option to graduating seniors.

Furthermore, there are a lot of "help the kids in the inner city" teaching programs where the soul goal is to get kids from impoverished school districts into 4 year colleges. These organizations are doing some good work but I have to strongly disagree that the only or even best way to break the cycle of poverty is to force someone into a 4 year university while completely and intentionally ignoring the many skilled trades that person could pursue. A kid with a apprenticeship in welding or high tech manufacturing is going to be able to change his life in a much more positive way than a kid with a degree in comparative lit and $60,000 in student debt. These programs really need to offer a more complete picture of the options facing graduating high school students.

American culture has promoted the 4 year university as the "only" way to be successful for decades. Blame the liberals, blame the academics, blame the politicians, blame the student loan companies, blame whoever. We have a shortage of skilled labor because we as a nation have treated skilled labors as a lower caste for years.