Technology or a career?

In recent years, Colombia has had a phenomenon in its education system. Many people have decided to study a trade instead of a career. This decision has to do with the amount of time it takes, namely, trades lasts two years while the career lasts between five and six years. I´m worried because the people who study trades are trained to do manual work while the professionals know where things come from, and their main function is thinking. For that reason, There are few professionals and many that study a trade.

I would like to know, what happens in your country?
Thanks for reading, I am waiting for your corrections.

There are people in both categories in both the US and Mexico, but especially in the US, universities are more and more expensive, and not everyone finishes their studies. I have smart kids that'll be university age in a few years, but I'm honestly not convinced it's the best option, I didn't go and I'm doing just fine!