More high school graduates are turning to industry rather than college

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Lowe’s, and Walgreens are three completely different companies, but they have one thing in common: They are among the best places to work for high school graduates.

That’s the conclusion of a new study from Harvard Business School, the Schultz Family Foundation, and the research firm Burning Glass Institute, which examined hiring trends at 400 large U.S. companies, focusing on those employers hiring entry-level employees and internal Frequency of promotions.

Walgreens said in a statement to CBS Financial Watch that it was proud to be recognized for its “competitive wages and benefits, as well as opportunities to learn and grow.”

“Being named the best place for high school graduates to start their careers further validates our commitment to team member development and career growth, which includes a 90% internal promotion rate goal, as well as competitive pay and world-class benefits,” Ilene Chipotle chief human resources officer Eskenazi told CBS MoneyWatch. She added that one of the company’s proudest achievements is that the restaurant’s former chefs and cashiers now serve in leadership roles.

Lowe’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Researchers ranked Best Buy, Chewy, Foot Locker, Gap, Goodyear, PNC Financial, and Starbucks among the top 10 employers for high school graduates, along with Chipotle, Lowe’s, and Walgreens.

Growing dissatisfaction with college costs

Large numbers of job seekers without college degrees are likely to enter the labor market because Americans are becoming increasingly frustrated as the cost of higher education continues to rise. A July poll by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation found that Americans believe the U.S. higher education system is heading in the “wrong direction.”

Meanwhile, opportunities for high school graduates are growing as one-third of U.S. companies dropped bachelor’s degree requirements from some job postings this year, according to college prep company Intelligent.

Burning Glass researchers say retail careers have emerged as a strong path to upward mobility, citing Home Depot, Dollar Tree, and Macy’s as among the top employers. The study found that working in a bank or insurance company also boosts high school graduate employment levels, with State Farm, Nationwide, and KeyCorp among the promising options.