Simple arithmetic

The earnings gap is widening not "despite" greater participation in higher education but because of it ("Value of a degree is on the way up", THES, September 19).

In the past, after A levels you trained as an accountant, solicitor or bank manager. Now these are all graduate jobs. Almost the only people who do not go to university are those pursuing low-paid jobs. So the earnings gap grows. It isn't rocket science.

Richard Austen-Baker
Leeds