Ultimately, I think for many Americans the idea of doing "real serious productive work" has been somehow blocked. I can't really claim to understand why.
For example, there's widespread unemployment in PA, and if you look electriican rates and plumber rates are through the roof AND demand is high.
But evidently people don't find this information realistic or actionable. I honestly couldn't tell you why they don't. I can't see a lot of inquiry into why this is the case in public discourse.