By the time today's eighth graders reach age 28-29, approximately 66% will have had some kind of postsecondary education or training. There has been a dramatic upward shift in the education and skill requirements for all occupations. Access to higher education has become the threshold for career success. Elite managerial and professional jobs, which are the highest-paid jobs, go primarily to people with bachelor's degrees. The good jobs held by crafts workers, technicians, clerical workers, and others go mainly to people with some college but no degree. The less-skilled, lowest-paid jobs go to less-educated workers, many of whom are in transition to more skilled jobs or are combining work and schooling. Although average earnings for women are still lower than average earnings for men, the correlation between education and earnings has increased dramatically for both genders in the past 2 decades. The jobs that employ the most skilled workers are growing the fastest. The most skilled students are more likely to attain higher levels of education. A strong high school curriculum lowers the hurdles to college graduation at every socioeconomic status, especially for minorities. Social capital factors, such as parental expectations, also play a strong role in educational attainment. (Contains 37 figures.) (MN)