I've come to the conclusion that this trend toward even ditch diggers needing at least a BA is to expose as many people as possible to the marxist indoctrinators on the faculties of colleges.
A friend of mine mailed me a clipping from the Help Wanted ads in his local newspaper a few years ago. The ad he highlighted listed the qualifications needed which included a BA in something or other. The closing line of the ad read, "Some heavy lifting involved". I $#!+ you not.
That is horrifyingly funny, or hilariously horrific, I don't know which!!! :)