I don't disagree that there should be a stronger emphasis on trades for high school students, as well as reducing the stigma against Tech Schools being branded as "not good enough for real high school" by public opinion, but...someone has to do the jobs in the service and restaurant sectors.

Countries that can't staff those businesses end up hiring foreign workers. That sends money out of the country. Look at the UAE or Qatar. Something like 90% of the country aren't citizens. Kuwait isn't so bad, they're at 60%. Good article in National Geographic about that disparity.