Yep, seeing this for trades also. Currently have years of experience, background vocation in high school, even helped start a few businesses in my field, thousands of apprenticeship hours for two trades, no journeymen papers though. Apply to postings, suddenly bombarded with spam from recruiters for term/contract positions for 1/3 - 1/2 pay of what the going rate is for similar experience. Shit pay, no benefits, no job security, HR/recruiters won't even state how long the term/contract is, usually state it's "ongoing."

Credential inflation galore for the apprenticeships positions. Want to start, or even re-enter, in the field? Need a pre-apprenticeship program (4-12 months) and either a technician (2 years) or technologist (3 years) diploma from college.

Then start your four year apprenticeship journey unless you try without and: you've been with the company for twenty years and have seniority for the next available spot, are a relation to management (usually sons and nephews), or are the token/diversity hire (again, usually daughters, nieces of management). Then companies cry "where are all the skilled workers? We need to import them from the third world because apparently we don't have any here!"