It used to be that a HS graduate could read, write effectively and think at least somewhat critically. That has become increasingly rare, thus the requirement for a bachelor’s degree. Even then the employer better test that applicant thoroughly for the skills and abilities required on the job.
Having done some hiring that required employees’ having analytical and communication skills, I relied more on determining the applicant’s intellectual capabilities than how many years spent in the classroom.
Before WW2 a fourth grade education was the equivalent of a high school diploma, at least for the military. By the end of the was things were so sophisticated that a higher level was needed.
“It used to be that a HS graduate could read, write effectively and think at least somewhat critically.”
I will gladly put my mom who by today’s standards grew up in “extreme extreme poverty”, who only went to high school, against 90% of today’s college graduates for reading, writing, and critical thinking abilities. Heck, she got bored one day 15 years ago, and not only taught herself how to use computers from absolute scratch having never touched one, but also became a pretty damn good web site developer.