Everyone wants to hire already skilled tradesmen, but no one wants to train them. The employers expect the guy to walk in and do the job, and is willing to pay them as little as possible to get the guys to work for their company.

You are correct, the solution is to get people that are interested in learning the trade you are willing to teach them, then actually train them. Then your challenge will be the other companies that will be willing to steal those employees you have trained. There has to be a mutual benefit for all parties involved to make this work in the current days.