Is a college degree the new high school diploma? According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, 38 percent of employers have raised their educational requirements over the last five years, compared to 32 percent last year. Forty-one percent of employers are hiring college-educated workers for positions that had been primarily held by those with high school degrees, compared to 37 percent in 2016. Thirty-three percent of employers are hiring more workers with master's degrees for positions that had been primarily held by those with a four-year degree, compared to 27 percent of employers last year.

More than 2,300 hiring and human resource managers in the private sector across industries participated in the nationwide survey, conducted online by Harris Poll from November 16 to December 6, 2016.

When asked why they are hiring more workers with college degrees for positions that had been primarily held by those with only high school degrees, 61 percent said it was because skills for their positions have evolved, requiring higher educated labor. Fifty-six percent said they are able to get college-educated labor for these positions because of the tight job market.

"We've continued to see an increase in the number of employers raising the educational requirements needed for their workforce," said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. "Roles across the board, even entry level positions, are evolving and becoming more complex. Employers are looking for workers with a solid knowledge base and skillset that can make an impact on the business right away."

Benefits of increased educational requirements
Employers that have increased educational requirements for their workforce have seen a positive effect on:

• Higher quality work: 61 percent

• Productivity: 51 percent

• Communication: 45 percent

• Innovation/idea generation: 41 percent

• Employee retention: 33 percent

• Revenue: 26 percent

• Customer loyalty: 24 percent

Raising requirements, but helping employees get the training they need
About half of employers (51 percent) plan to provide more online, competency-based learning opportunities to employees in 2017. Forty-one percent of employers are sending current workers back to school to get an advanced degree – with 14 percent fully funding the degree, and 22 percent funding it partially.

Confused about how much education your career requires? FindYourCalling.com gives you the chance to instantly view a wide range of careers based on a survey about individual interests, and see job growth projections, salary ranges, companies hiring, educational programs and more.

Find Your Calling Month, a nationwide initiative taking place throughout March, helps students discover possible career and education paths and get them excited about the future. During Find Your Calling Month, parents, teachers, counselors and advisors throughout the country are encouraged to host Find Your Calling events, where hosts are provided supplies to guide students in identifying their strengths and interests and explore careers and schools that supply the education they need at a manageable cost.