Today there is much competition coming from other continents, especially here in the United States where many people work for below market price. As a result it is now becoming harder for high school, and other graduates who do not have a degree. Furthermore, employers are becoming more selective and choose to hire professionals who have more educational, and on the job experience. Of course on the job experience can only be obtained by working, but education must be sought after through college and technical schools.
For example many banks use to hire Tellers straight out of high school without any formal education, but many banks today are looking for individuals with a minor in accounting at the least. That is only one example of a job that requires an education. Another example, would be a pharmacy technician that is required to go to a technical school in order to be qualified.
These are the reasons that education is becoming more and more imperative in order to move up in the world.
You can read more about education, and its benefits by going to the career related site, education.com