There would have been a very short conversation when I saw the first "weld", either get it together or get gone. I might have grabbed a pair of gloves and a helmet to prove to myself there wasn't a problem with the machine first.
I got over all the altruistic crap long ago, labor is only labor, not friends, not investments in the future, just extra hands producing profit.
Kids including those up to age 60 today are just along for the ride, with no intention of improving themselves or their skills. Be it the result of TV or Public Education or whatever we have evolved into a society of useless creatures who will occasionally perform one or two basic labor functions. That may be workable in a large operation such as car building, but it won't keep the doors open in a small shop. You see what's available, and regardless of how much you hope and dream, the available labor situation ain't going to improve.
Over ten years you'll make more money and keep more of what you make working alone and sticking with jobs you can do alone. You already knew that when you sent kids to the library and none came back. It's pathetic, but it's reality.