I guess so. I was curious if there is a similar projected demand in the US. I don't know if that info is on this page, but it does show the median annual wage to be $38k https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes493091.htm

Anybody with half a brain an allen wrench and an inclination can fix their own bike.

Lots of AI-proof trades that pay well. HVAC, welding, plumbing, mechanics, etc.

It's not survivable in the EU. It's just that you would qualify for government assistance whereas in the US you're probably told to go live in a cardboard box. The problem is it doesn't really fix the underlying issue which is that as soon as anyone is offered a better paying job they'll disappear.

No one's going to put in the effort to get certified if the job is known not to pay very well.

No longer in the EU but UK minimum wage is comfortably survivable in most of the country. Might be fucked in London though.

I tried adjusting my own derailleur once.

Shop for me from then on.

I'm surprised when I talk to people and almost always hear that they bring their bike to a shop for maintenance and repair. I'm usually the strange one who do his own maintenance and repairs. So I can believe that most people bring their bike to a mechanic. The 90% figure still seems high though.

The full quote is, "A lot of them now will come to cycle shops for pretty much 90% of bike repairs." So not necessarily that 90% of people are coming in for every issue, but that there are people who rely on the shop for almost every issue.

I've learned a lot about bike repairs this year, and I've been volunteering as a mechanic at free bike repair events. It's been interesting going from the clueless customer asking for a "tune-up" to being the one asked for a tune-up. If you ride but don't have maintenance background you know that it's possible there might be some problematic, or even dangerous issue; but you have no idea what that might be. And if you can identify a problem, as far as you know any work you do might brake something in a way you don't understand. So I can understand people going to the shop frequently.

I think it is fairly common for the average rider in a bikeable area. Like a car sure a lot of drivers know how to change a tire, a lot fewer change the oil or brakes. Computers arent hard to build but 90% of people buy something premade.

Not until you get drafted as mechanic on one of the big bicycle Formula 1 teams like red bull or McLaren OH WAIT

I do it all myself and just follow guides very slowly. Haven't had a problem in 7 years, not everyone that does DIY is a moron.