Allan Said:

should everyone be encouraged to obtain an advanced education?

We Answered:

Uhh, That's all the employer has to measure intelligence. Another reason is because our society is obsessed with degrees. You're not valued unless you have a degree. You don't have to be educated...you just need to have a degree. It doesn't matter what your degree is in. You can can have a degree in "Wine Tasting." You just need to have one. You don't have to be smart to have a degree...just satisfy the college requirements, and be degreed.

More people can and are getting degrees now so employers are demanding degrees for jobs that don't even require degrees. Nobody care about trade schools or anything but a degree anymore. There's an oversupply of degrees now. There aren't enough high/decent paying jobs for everyone with degrees. Degree holders are going after jobs that non-degree holders are pursuing. People with degrees "tend" to have more options than non-degree holders. The only problem is...the oversupply of degrees lowers salaries and the value of degrees. If you want more options, and want to feed the beast that is the "degree obsession," then you must obtain a degree.