> Encouraging the trades might make sense in a country with a strong safety net, free health care, better labor laws, stronger unions. This is just my own obse

> Encouraging the trades might make sense in a country with a strong safety net, free health care, better labor laws, stronger unions. This is just my own observation, but the tradesmen I've seen do OK in the US are those that own and run their own business -- even those that have just 1 tradesperson working. Think "Inland Plumbing LLC" run by a guy and his wife out of their house. Yes, many trades are back-breaking work. I have a relative who was a home inspector for years (crawling around in attics, crawl spaces, and roofs all day is exhausting), and he did struggle at times to pay to raise several kids. Owner-operator electricians and plumbers in particular (and especially those rated for commercial work) can do very well.