Final answer:
Job openings generally require some level of education beyond high school, and the likelihood of job growth increases with the level of education attained. Additionally, lower unemployment rates are associated with higher educational achievements. Despite these trends, not everyone seeks higher education, as evidenced by the statistics provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the information provided, job openings that require education beyond high school have distinct growth projections based on the level of education. For example, job growth for positions that require a professional degree or a master's degree is anticipated to be around 20 and 22 percent, respectively. In contrast, those with a bachelor's degree can expect job growth of about 17 percent.
Conversely, jobs requiring only a high school diploma are projected to grow by 12 percent, and those for individuals with less than a high school diploma are expected to increase by 14 percent. This illustrates a clear trend towards higher education being a significant factor in securing employment and fulfilling the American Dream.
Unemployment rates also correlate strongly with education levels. As of January 2017, the unemployment rate for college graduates was substantially lower at 2.5%, compared to 7.7% for those without a high school diploma. This disparity highlights the better connections and higher demand that come with additional education.
However, not everyone pursues higher education. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from 2019, while over 90% of U.S. adults aged 25 and over had at least a high school diploma, only 36% had attained a bachelor's degree or higher, and just 13.5% had earned a master's or higher degree.
This indicates that despite the advantages of higher education in the labor market, a significant portion of the population does not pursue degrees beyond high school.