"Being forced into post-secondary education, college or university, in order to be even considered for entry-level jobs...with massive debts..."

Nobody is forcing anybody to get a Masters degree let alone a PhD, burdened with the "massive debts." It's still a choice.  Parents and peers do a very good job in PRESSURING those leaving public school to do so.  That's always been the case (I sweated my guts out in 1959--Grade 8--so I could advance through High School in the "University Program" stream. Boy, pressure? Intense...but it's not new.) 

You're not going to university some asked, when I said "not me,"  My Grade 13  history teacher told the class it was simply because 'I wasn't smart enough.'  I was smart enough to laugh at him.  Two years at BCIT.  Fine for me.  Two years, BCIT, fine for my oldest girl (grad: 1998)--neither of us had "massive debts"--she was debt-free 1.5 years into her career in health care.  Very nice salary and benefits today.  

More to come.