But you only have on our database the jobs that people approach you to fill - and regardless of who makes the requirements it is still a lazy filter for most positions. That is a really restricted subset, probably largely those that are difficult to fill, possibly either because they require great qualifications (and so are highly-paid) or are low-paid. I am not sure why you expect Tim's son to choose one of the lowest paid of those in preference to perhaps a more highly-paid job in the rest of the market, considering that if he has any chance of a graduate job then he must have the character and attitude to get one of the better non-graduate jobs.
Surely if he loses the class 1 he can then go to university to study for the degree, in a subject that might be currently relevant, with the maturity of age, funded probably by an insurance payout. He might choose at that point to use his skills and experience to gain a job or to start a business.
Remember that having "nothing to show for it" is actually a rather large step up from the debt recent graduates have. Considering if he does have nothing to show for three years work then he was probably never suited to a degree, let alone a well-paid graduate job (or the aviation industry for that matter) then avoiding the degree was probably a very good idea!