I think the point is that there is starting to be this shift again to becoming a tradesman instead of getting a degree.
This is actually the ideal time for all companies to a.) automate more, b.) increase wages, c.) explore extensible employment models (e.g. uber, air bnb, mechanical turk, etc.). Corporations will do a and c on their own, but b is stubbornly inhibited by misguided corporate philosophy of "work to maximize the value of a share" vice "work to maximize value of the product offering".
1. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/611423/rebuilding-germany...