This statement lept out at me. Am I supposed to be surprised that it's harder to find a job if one does not have a four-year degree?
It was harder, but it's only been the past couple of years that it's been impossible.
Back in the days of wide-open immigration, it was illegal for companies to hire workers before they arrived in the US, to prevent people from being tricked into exploitative arrangements (given that the typical would-be immigrant would be unfamiliar with the economic realities in America). Immigrants were asked on arrival if they already had a job lined up and had to say "no."
This statement lept out at me. Am I supposed to be surprised that it's harder to find a job if one does not have a four-year degree?
You left out the context. Here is the whole paragraph
Many companies hire student engineers from India and China with only 2 or 3 years of college and then train them in their own facilities. U.S. students with 2 or 3 years of college get no job offers.
It is not about 4 year degrees. It is about the origin of the employee. Foreigners with 2 or 3 years of college good, US students bad.
Once upon a time, before employers could send to India for engineers, students were recruited before graduating. Many left school to work and completed school later, sometimes at their employers expense.
Private industry also teamed up with high schools and colleges to create programs to train students to provide themselves with a workforce with required skills.