"I think a big part of it is social status and marriageability. There is a social stigma against the trades that relegates its workers to low social status." T

"I think a big part of it is social status and marriageability. There is a social stigma against the trades that relegates its workers to low social status." This is fast changing. The days of "ooh they work in an office" vs. your average handyman are mostly gone US metro areas. If anything, electricians, mechanics, carpenters, firefighters, etc. are seen as "manly men" with the surviving traditional masculinity compared to most men in metro areas.