Actually by doing a degree you gain a number of transferable skills, as well as skills in a specific area. I'm not disagreeing that employers prefer experience over a degree but you seem to be ignoring the underlying problem that there are nowhere near enough apprenticeship or junior jobs for everyone aged 18 to take one - probably only 10-20% of school leavers would be able to get them. In the science and technology fields, in particular, higher education can trump experience as those with experience don't always have up-to-date skills and knowledge.
Many degrees - classics, history, law, mathematics are academic subjects rather than specialising in any professional field (note I include law within in that).
I don't disagree but with respect we are not talking about the problem of school leavers (and graduates) being unable to find jobs. We are talking about the economic reasons underpinning the salary for a particular job.
You're going off a tangent because I suggested an advert for a train driver saying a salary of £25,000 after 18 months of training would attract people to apply. Let's face it you know that's reality so want to make pointless arguments to prevent that being discussed.
I'm not going off at a tangent.
You've made two contradictory statements in your previous postings:
(1) you said train drivers salaries prevent TOCs making a profit
(2) I asked since when was that the case
(3) you said said my question was irrelevant to your first statement. Huh?!?!
As for your last comment, I'm not disputing that you could find people willing to apply for any job for almost any given salary level. However whether those people are a. able to do the job and b. Willing and able to do it for the long term are two different things.
I bet your boss could find plenty of people willing to do your job for a lower salary than you're being paid, so that statement is completely meaningless.
I'm actually at a loss as to what your point is on this thread other than to state that train drivers "reasonable" salary is £25k and people with degrees *should* be paid more because they've paid for their degrees themselves.