Final answer:
Without specific data comparing the opinions of the general public to those with four-year degrees regarding the workplace skill development usefulness of degrees, the absolute difference cannot be determined. Educational attainment, as reported by the BLS, does strongly influence job growth rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question doesn't provide specific data about the opinions of the general public versus those with four-year degrees regarding the usefulness of a degree in developing workplace skills. Therefore, it's not possible to calculate the absolute difference between these opinions. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports indicate that those with higher education degrees have better job growth prospects. For example, jobs requiring a professional degree or a master's degree may expect job growth of 20% and 22% respectively, whereas jobs that require a bachelor's degree are projected to grow by 17%. In comparison, jobs for individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent are expected to grow at only 12%.