Chipotle Mexican Grill, Lowe’s, and Walgreens are three very different companies, but they all have one thing in common: they’re all among the best places for high school graduates to find employment.
That’s according to a new study from Harvard Business School, the Schultz Family Foundation and research firm Burning Glass Institute, which looked at hiring trends at 400 of the largest U.S. companies, focusing on how frequently employers hire entry-level employees and promote internally.
In a statement to CBS MoneyWatch, Walgreens said it was proud to be recognized for its “competitive wages and benefits, as well as opportunities for learning and growth.”
“Being named the best place for high school graduates to launch their careers is further validation of our commitment to the development and career advancement of our team members, including our 90 percent internal promotion goal, competitive compensation and world-class benefits,” Chipotle’s chief human resources officer, Irene Eskenazi, told CBS MoneyWatch. She added that one of the company’s proudest accomplishments is having former cooks and cashiers take on leadership positions in its restaurants.
Lowe’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
In addition to Chipotle, Lowe’s and Walgreens, researchers named Best Buy, Chewy, Foot Locker, Gap, Goodyear, PNC Financial and Starbucks as the top 10 best employers for high school graduates.
Growing dissatisfaction with college tuition fees
There may be an increase in job seekers without college degrees entering the labor market. Americans are becoming more and more dissatisfied The cost of higher education is rising, and a July Gallup/Lumina Foundation poll found that Americans believe the U.S. higher education system is heading in the “wrong direction.”
At the same time, opportunities for high school graduates are increasing, with one in three U.S. companies dropping bachelor’s degree requirements from some job openings this year, according to college prep company Intelligent.
Burning Glass researchers noted that careers in retail are a strong path to advancement, with Home Depot, Dollar Tree and Macy’s also top employers. Jobs at banks and insurance companies can also help high school graduates land top jobs, the study said, naming State Farm, Nationwide and KeyCorp as promising options.
