> First, a lot of jobs in the UK require a degree, although it is not clear to me why. I knew a couple who wouldn't hire a babysitter that didn't have a four-y

> First, a lot of jobs in the UK require a degree, although it is not clear to me why. I knew a couple who wouldn't hire a babysitter that didn't have a four-year degree with a GPA of at least 3.7. They weren't wealthy or eccentric. Their combined family income was probably around $65k a year and the job only paid $8 an hour. There were simply enough people looking for work that they never had trouble finding someone who met their requirements. Granted, the above anecdote was from the USA, but I haven't found things that different here in the UK.