Lack of capable tradesmen goes hand in hand with the lack of work ethic in the general population today.....along with the prevailing attitude that "work sucks".
If you were to run an add for construction workers how many applicants do you think would have these traits? I've hired dozens of guys and learned to keep my expectations low.
appearance, attendance, attitude, character, communication, cooperation, organizational skills, productivity, respect and teamwork
BTW.... Mike Rowe is an excellent ambassador for the trades....hes doing a lot to help with the problem.