MYTH: American employers cannot find a sufficiently educated American workforce.

by Steve Nelson and Richard Greenough

FACT: In 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 69 percent of the occupations in American had educational requirements of a high school diploma, its equivalent or less. An additional 11 percent required some postsecondary education of less than a baccalaureate level.  Nonetheless, 48% of employees with Bachelor’s degrees or higher filled these positions, representing 18% of all individuals employed by those jobs.  

One in five workers are educationally overqualified for their current job and half of the individuals holding baccalaureate degrees hold positions with requirements not equivalent to their educational attainment.

Typical Education Needed for Entry	Number Employed Holding Bachelor’s Degree or Higher*	Total Number Employed in Occupation*	Percent Employees with Bachelor’s or Higher
Less than high school	3543.3	37081.1	10
High school diploma/equivalent	11882.9	62090.1	19
Some college, no degree	336.4	811.6	29
Postsecondary non-degree award	801.1	6524.1	41
Associates Degree	3496.3	7995.0	44
Bachelor’s Degree	15815.1	22171.7	71
Master’s Degree	1611.8	1986.0	12
Doctoral/Professional Degree	4254.8	4409.6	96
Total	41,741.6	143069.2	100

*Numbers in thousands.