Apprenticeships or higher studies: beyond pride and prejudice, achieving greater goals in the future

While the number of university entrants is rising steadily, the number of skilled workers to be trained in the skilled trades is falling ever more drastically. What are the reasons for this? Is it the seemingly rather poor image of apprenticeships from a social point of view, does the advantageous awareness of master craftsman's degrees already start at school, and why does a "successful, secure future" seem to be attainable only through an academic title?