Within the span of even five years, the demands for employees with preparation beyond high school are very apparent. In a study conducted by CareerBuilder and Harris Interactive, employers that were hiring high school graduates for entry-level positions are now seeking college graduates.³ The following chart depicts the percentage of these jobs that hiring managers say now require a college degree.

Hiring managers report that college graduates tend to possess soft skills that make them more desirable candidates. Thirty-seven percent of employers also admit that they are unlikely to promote an employee who lacks a college degree.⁵

This increase in the number of college graduates being hired for lower-skill positions might be attributed, in part, to more competition in the job market. However, this trend is also partially due to changing job duties and increased need for technical skills that are gained through postsecondary education and applied in a global economy.⁶