where I'm from, apprenticeships are not seen as a gatekeeping mechanism, but instead as an opportunity to learn something "useful" (aka some trade or craft) and get started with low or no pre-training - typically apprenticeships will start at age ~15 and take 3 years. Businesses are supported by state subsidies for educating apprentices.
It's not all rose petals but overall seems like a valid option for someone who can't/doesn't want to pursue a higher education career.
I think Americans are culturally afraid other people will take their jobs, so they love industry barriers to entry. Even when this means the only people working in a given field are all about to retire.
The hardcore version of this is labor unions of course, but the small version is occupational licensing for all kinds of small-time occupations like hairdressing.
They shouldn't worry so much, since Americans are also culturally afraid of any kind of job where you have to do X if they think they aren't an "X person", to the point they won't apply to do it for any amount of money. Applies to physical labor (farmworkers) as much as mental (anything where you have to do math).
It's not all rose petals but overall seems like a valid option for someone who can't/doesn't want to pursue a higher education career.