I mean, if you can't see that there is something different about the current market space we are in now vs the one in the 70s/80s I don't know what to tell you other than to read more or talk to people who lived through it.

My father got hired on as a machine maintenance person almost immediately after he dropped out of college, with no previous training or experience whatsoever, and then bought his first house within two years. They trained him and he worked his way up on the job and held it for over 30+ years. Lets look to a quick Indeed listing typing in that same job title today and read a few off the top listing together that don't have 'senior' in the title.

Applicant must have 3 to 5 years’ experience

Three (3) years equivalent work experience required or a machinist/technical degree.

Technical degree/machinist certification or 4-6 years equivalent work experience required.

I mean if you are going to argue that this is the same way the market has always been, that is just completely incorrect, both anecdotally and statistically.