Factory workers are becoming obsolete. I'm not sure we need more of them standing in the unemployment line. Many people don't have pensions regardless of their occupation. building trades people are often subcontractors and as such, it is unlikely they have pensions. Just curious, are you college educated? You talk like you know how things work in a college environment. This usually requires first hand experience.
Yes I am college educated.
Many carpenters, plumbers, electricians etc. belong to unions and have pensions. The companies they work for does subcontracting work however they have pensions. It makes no difference if they are working for a contractor or subcontractor. What makes you think they would not have pensions? Lone subcontractors and handy men might not have pensions but many guys that do commercial work for small to medium sized businesses do.
I know electricians with huge homes and even vacation homes! Those guys are making good money.
Some of these guys can retire at 60 but work till 65 so they get an even bigger pension. They are all set and can have a comfortable retirement. Many people with college degrees on the other hand can't. Now granted trade work exacts a heavy toll on their bodies whereas people sitting behind a desk might not have the same amount of joint wear etc. Then again the guys working in trades are usually in decent shape because they move around a lot more. The guys sitting behind desks can become fat and get heart attacks etc.