I'll give you one example, and maybe you'll be able to find something similar appropriate for him.

Social dance instructor. It's all sorts of good things that a tech degree is very far from, and would pay dividends for the rest of his life. It's social, it's expressive, it's physical. There's also the "cohort of youngins working for nothing" effect.

I would think this generalizes somewhat to various kinds of fitness instruction.

I've always thought that car salesman would make for very good experience. Negotiating and persuading are useful skills to have.

But that's the angle I'd suggest - find a "something different" job that leaves you with skills that will be personally useful long after the year is done.

Another angle to look at - doing a few different things for the year.