I worked in engineering in the UK which due to the shortage of skilled workers allowed me to come and go as I pleased, either returning to a previous employer or finding a new one. I did an apprenticeship as a toolmaker and did a variety of jobs including many types of manual and CNC machining and as a machine and engine fitter.
This work is not union controlled as some trades seem to be in North America, although I was a member of a trades union in a couple of places and once you started an apprenticeship which was usually straight out of school at 16 you would be expected to finish it which would take 4-5 years.
In the UK at least any apprenticeship in a skilled manual job would lead to regular and possibly flexible employment, the building trades were particularly in demand but what the economy and jobs market will be like after covid has done its danmedest is anyones guess.
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