Undergrad degree was created to develop general intelligence and “how to think critically”. Not job skills. Still has a place in society, but obviously not for everyone.

Trade school is better for someone who wants job training to make money doing a particular thing. Not very transferable, and often pretty expensive with years of mentorship required before being permitted into a union.

People should really consider what they want to be doing in order to contribute to society. High School is the optimal time to be exploring self and place in the world, but a lot of people are still being treated as children during adolescence, so they do not really know what to do with themselves. Delayed maturation results in University as default.