Sliding Scores: A comprehensive new study shows that the ability level of the
average high school graduate has steadily declined, and thus “the value of the
high school diploma as a predictor of job success has greatly diminished.”
This is according to Wonderlic Inc., a Libertyville, Illinois-based vendor of
hiring and recruiting software. Wonderlic analyzed occupational norms from a
sample of 200 employers, 2,000 jobs and 100,000 applicants and compared them
with occupational data sets from previous studies. The analysis showed a steady
decline between1970 and 2005 in the average scores for both high school and
college graduates. That includes diminished scores for cognitive abilities such
as thinking critically and independently.
To find a person today whose ability level matches that of 1970 high school
grads “requires employers to seek out applicants with two or more years of
college training.” Rather than relying on diplomas as a good indicator of
ability, companies are using supplemental evaluations, including standardized
tests, to get a better handle on an applicants’ true aptitude.
The Wonderlic study also shows that, on average, job applicants are nearly
seven years older and have a full year more of education than they did in 1970.
Wonderlic says the reason for this is that the number of people pursuing higher
education has increased dramatically, and a decline in job stability has
increased the number of experienced job applicants on the market.
= Member Only
