Tbf, a guy who’s that unreliable would have a ton of difficulty holding any job at all due to unexcused absence. He’d probably be working below minimum wage or getting fired every other week.
Although things have obviously changed a lot. I’m reading mercy Thompson right now, where a character complains about barely being able to afford living alone after giving away 60% of their check. Iirc they’re supposedly a waitress.
Disagree with your underlying assertion that students do not read nonfiction books. Your textbooks are nonfiction.
In terms of more “classic” nonfiction materials, j don’t think it’s a very important skill. Something like Anne Frank’s diary or Night can definitely be powerful, but I don’t think reading a secondary source on the American civil war has any more value for a student than a chapter in a textbook.