I need to make sure my niece and nephew sign up for shop courses in High School.

Things are changing. There certainly is demand for things like general auto maintenance, although cars are now lasting a bit longer between maintenance intervals.

People keep talking about new vehicles being too complicated to work on, but the basics all remain the same. Tires, water, water circulation, electrical generation, starter motors, etc.

I do think it would be a tough market for a small builder to break into. Although there is also some market for welders & etc at smaller established manufacturers. Just not that many.

It seems like some of the "frame schools" are teaching home hobbyists that wish to build maybe a half a dozen frames, then hang it up.

A "college program" has to be more for young kids really wanting to try out a career.

I agree, it appears to me to be a tight market, but there are some unique advances going on now too.