Interesting question. According to this Pew Research Study from 2012, "Asian arrivals [are] the most highly educated cohort of immigrants in U.S. history." However, the study also points out that "they place more value than other Americans do on marriage, parenthood, hard work and career success." From my perspective in higher education (graduate school) their numbers continue to increase both as faculty and as students.

As to people getting practical trade skills, I agree with you. The U.S. switched to a K-12 educational strategy of college prep for all. That has honestly been a disaster, in part because many are not cut out or interested in college and, in part because of an overemphasis on standardized tests vs. evidence-based teaching and learning principles. Many of our children would be better off training for plumbing and electrician work or other maintenance jobs that tend to be well-paid and hard to replace with robots or overseas labor.