Why are all new people instruction followers?

IDK if it's just our area or what, but it seems that 90% of people we get are only able to do exactly what they're told, like if they see a new problem, they have no capability to figure it out and have to have someone else do it. Almost like they're androids that need to be programmed. Anyone else see this? I dont feel like I would have been kept when I was first hired if I did this, I was handed a router and told to "make this work for a VPN" with literally no other instruction.

I dont feel like I should have to make an exact document with pictures for every minute task. We do have people who eventually get it but holy shit it takes a long time usually.