From Michael Bloomberg and Jamie Dimon: The Skills Schools Aren’t Teaching But Must
I entirely agree with their idea of job training for high school grads, and I also agree that the overemphasis of college is foolish. I am not sure the idea is neglected, though. There are vocational schools all over (public and private), and community colleges generally have vocationally-oriented programs.
Much neglected in the discussion in the US are apprenticeships, which cost nothing and which are usually paid helper jobs which can lead to well-paid jobs afterwards. My electronics repair guy gets $175/hr. My computer expert gets $200/hr, has no college. My gunsmith, $150/hr. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, tree men, chefs, and so forth all can have solid incomes via apprenticeships.
In fact, legal training is mainly through apprenticeship. Sure, you have to go to law school in most states now, but the real learning is by doing under supervision.