Alma the Younger would have learned some kind of a profession or craft fairly early in his life, as well as having been trained to write and to read. He probably had the privilege of being educated, and that raises the possibility that he was a younger child. Nephi had the privilege in Lehi’s family of keeping the records, but he was not the eldest son. This was likely typical of ancient families. What do they need the older two or three children to be doing? Working. Taking care of the animals, tilling the fields, doing the hard, manual work. A younger son could be taught by the father who could turn a lot of work over to others. Laman and Lemuel apparently resented that. Alma is a privileged young man, very privileged. He ends up being best friends with sons of the king.
Matthew L. Bowen, "Alma — Young Man, Hidden Prophet," Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 19 (2016): 343–353.
Brant A. Gardner, "Nephi as Scribe," Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 23, no. 1 (2011): 45–55.