Yes, it is hard, especially for people who don't have qualifications.
It really is worth doing your trade/uni/course/qualification when you are young and free from responsibility and can afford to live on the bones of your a$$.
Trying to do this and provide for children and other responsibilities is nigh impossible on unskilled wages.
Yes it's hard! But he does have other qualifications, Truck license, forklift, welder (engineering) and has his white card. Also done a few other small tickets. It's just hard to get something reasonably close with decent pay. I work 5 minutes down the road so I am lucky