Then factor in how distasteful the work is, how hazardous it is, how long those starting last and what there choices are if GM doesn't work out and so on

It's not enough to just look at the arithmatic

I know of a job in the auto industry where the guys make about $100 k annually, don't remember what it's called
All they do is sit around all day sometimes month on end reading or whatever to while away the time
but if the line goes down they run out on the line and try to figure out what went wrong
every minute they save is there pay for the year

Now imagine how many years of on the job experience and training it takes to be qualified for that job and how much competition there is to get that job