My neighbor works construction and my son did for a while. They were working on the new Texas Instruments silicon prefab. The people that do the actual work with their hands are expected to do just about everything. We are talking about advanced metal work in a place with liquid nitrogen and harmful chemical agents.

The actual engineers just walk around to validate the work conforms to the written plans. That is why these large engineering companies prefer to hire only from labor unions in a location that is extremely anti-union, because the union has the social resources to validate the candidates in ways the employer does not.

Even in that environment there are more experienced people who are 10x producers.

that's an interesting point about unions in the US. if true. because in europe (at least in austria and germany, but i suspect it's the case in most countries) unions do not do any validation of their members. having a job in an industry IS your validation to be a union member. the union then negotiates work conditions and pay on your behalf. figuring out whether you are qualified is the companies job.