Employer Quotes

The quotes below are about this issue:
Most employers say they look for entry-level hires that have some post-secondary education. Minimally, this means a certificate, but a two-year degree is preferred. Most employers state that a high school degree or GED is generally inadequate for various positions; nonetheless, many have had to hire at this level due to the labor shortage.

Employer Quote	Region
"We're all fighting for the top fruit. Twelve kids came out of the program—and that's just a certificate program. That's the pool for those of us that are looking for more than just a high school diploma. And then there's certificate training. We need substantially more than that for them to be CNC machine operators."	Southeast
"Looking at the machine technology area, the data says it requires a high school diploma. Well, since when? Thirty years ago, it required a CNC Machining Degree from a two-year technical program. So, now, according to this data somebody needs a high school education and that's it? That's not going to cut it."	Southeast
"Employer 1: Definitely not looking at the associate's pool for welders. Question: So, you're looking for people with a two-year degree in welding? Employer 1: Not looking. Employer 2: No. Question: High school graduates? Employer 2: High school graduates."	Southeast