Being a monk doesn't mean anything if you don't practice. If you really understand the practice of dhamma then no matter what position or profession you hold in life, be it a teacher, doctor, civil servant or whatever, you can practice the Dhamma every minute of the day. To think you can't practice as a layman is to lose track of the path completely. If they feel they are lacking something they make an effort to obtain it. If there is sufficient desire people can do anything.
Breathing is vital to people's lives.
If they saw Dhamma practice as vital to their lives they would see it as important as their breathing. The practice of dhamma isn't something you have to go running around for or exhaust yourself over. Just look at the feelings which arise in your mind. If we like that object we experience pleasure, if we dislike it we experience displeasure. That's all there is to it.