“Johnny and Mary don’t have to go to college to make a decent living.”

For several decades, teachers, counselors and elected officials have been telling students they must obtain a college degree if they hope to do well in life. Wrong. The Wall Street Journal periodically runs stories about the lack of young workers in the skilled trade areas, and today USA Today reports on the lack of skilled tool and die makers — who earn about $60,000 a year.

Last year, the number of workers in the sector jumped 7% to 98,000, while total payrolls for all manufacturers rose 2% to 11.8 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Eighty percent of the USA’s 5,800 tool and die firms — small firms with an average 30 employees — are seeking one to five workers, estimates Dave Tilstone, head of the National Tool & Machining Association.

Fledgling workers typically complete four-year apprenticeships, after which they can make $60,000 a year. “Johnny and Mary don’t have to go to college to make a decent living,” Tilstone says.