I am a tradesman with a lot of technical skills with some specialized skills in short supply (at least in the US) with a little less than a decade of experience. My partner is a skilled social worker with more than a decade of experience.
We cannot afford a golden visa in any country.
We are at least 3rd generation Americans, and do not have the right to claim citizenship in any other country without going through the immigration and naturalization process there.
Neither of us is very good at picking up a new language (lord how I’ve tried)
Where could we realistically look to go?
Australia and New Zealand have a points based immigration system that you can check online. That would be the first place I’d look.
Australia also needs trades people and has a list of jobs with scarce skills. Check the list and see if your occupation is on it.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list
If your trade is on the list you can easily get a company sponsored visa to Australia. This is a good pathway to Australian permanent residence and citizenship.
P.S. I know many people who have done this. In the mining industry, the company moves your stuff and usually pays for about 3 months of accommodation so you have time to find your bearings.
The company will bring you over on a long stay work visa which allows you to apply for permanent residence.
There are then two options, you can go with a company sponsored permanent residence or an independent permanent residence visa.
I personally have done the latter path. When I was on the work visa my company paid my health insurance and moving costs. The process of immigrating to Australia was very easy but a lot of paperwork.