Workers prepare for employment in many ways, but the most fundamental form of job training in the United States is a high school education. Fully 88 percent of the Nation's workforce possessed a high school diploma or its equivalent in 2002. However, many occupations require more training, so growing numbers of workers pursue additional training or education after high school. In 2002, 28.7 percent of the Nation's workforce reported having completed some college or an associate's degree as their highest level of education, while an additional 28.7 percent continued in their studies and attained a bachelor's or higher degree. In addition to these types of formal education, other sources of qualifying training include formal company-provided training, apprenticeships, informal on-the-job training, correspondence courses, the Armed Forces vocational training, and non-work-related training.
The unique combination of training required to succeed in each industry is determined largely by the industry's production process and the mix of occupations it requires. For example, manufacturing employs many machine operators who generally need little formal education after high school, but sometimes complete considerable on-the-job training. In contrast, educational services employs many types of teachers, most of whom require a bachelor's or higher degree. Training requirements by industry sector are shown in table 7.
Table 7. Percent distribution of workers by highest grade completed or degree received, by industry sector, 2002
| Industry sector | High school diploma or less | Some college or associate's degree |
Bachelor's or higher degree |
| All industries | 42.5 | 28.7 | 28.7 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting | 65.4 | 21.2 | 13.4 |
| Mining | 57.0 | 23.5 | 19.5 |
| Construction | 64.7 | 25.1 | 10.2 |
| Manufacturing | 52.9 | 25.7 | 21.4 |
| Wholesale trade | 44.8 | 27.9 | 27.3 |
| Retail trade | 52.7 | 31.1 | 16.1 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 52.9 | 32.1 | 15.1 |
| Utilities | 39.8 | 35.3 | 25.0 |
| Information | 27.6 | 33.0 | 39.3 |
| Finance and insurance | 26.1 | 32.0 | 41.9 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 38.9 | 31.5 | 29.6 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 15.3 | 24.3 | 60.4 |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 54.9 | 27.3 | 17.9 |
| Educational services, private | 18.9 | 19.5 | 61.6 |
| Health care and social assistance | 31.9 | 34.4 | 33.7 |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 41.4 | 30.7 | 27.8 |
| Accommodation and food services | 63.3 | 26.4 | 10.3 |
| Government | 25.6 | 36.7 | 37.8 |
Persons with no more than a high school diploma accounted for about 65.4 percent of all workers in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting; 64.7 percent in construction; 63.3 percent in accommodation and food services; 56.9 percent in mining; 52.9 percent in manufacturing; and 52.7 in retail trade. On the other hand, those who had acquired a bachelor's or higher degree accounted for 61.6 percent of all workers in educational services, private; 60.4 percent in professional, scientific, and technical services; 41.9 percent in finance and insurance; 39.3 percent in information; and 37.8 percent in government.
Education and training also are important factors in the variety of advancement paths found in different industries. Each industry has some unique advancement paths, but workers who complete additional on-the-job training or education generally help their chances of being promoted. In much of the manufacturing sector, for example, production workers who receive training in management and computer skills increase their likelihood of being promoted to supervisory positions. Other factors that impact advancement and that may figure prominently in the industries covered include the size of the establishments, institutionalized career tracks, and the mix of occupations. As a result, persons who seek jobs in particular industries should be aware of how these advancement paths and other factors may later shape their careers.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor.
