1 Today, having a degree is usually an entry requirement for many jobs.如今，拥有大学学历通常是找工作的门槛。
entry requirement加入/进入的条件，entry requirement for many jobs在这里可以理解为找工作的门槛。其中，entry是enter的名词形式，常用作entry into sth。可以在这句话的基础上进行改写：
Today, having a master's degree is a prerequisite for entry into many professions in China, such as doctors and high-school teachers, and it is increasingly the case for some lower-skilled jobs.如今，拥有硕士学历是进入我国某些行业(比如医生和高中老师)的一个必备条件，而且对于很多技术水平更低的工作来说也日渐如此。
【补充：本科学历：a bachelor's degree | 博士学历：a doctoral degree】
表示门槛，也可以用threshold for sth，比如下面这句话：
2 A university education is increasingly seen as the threshold for a well-paid job.大学学历逐渐被视为高薪工作的门槛。
3 In Britain, too, many see a university degree as an essential first step into the world of work these days.在英国，很多人也将大学学历视为如今进入职场的关键的第一步。
an essential first step关键的第一步。step后面也可以接towards+目标。如：
Obtaining a higher degree is an essential first step towards achieving professional success.获得高等学历是实现事业成功的关键第一步。
4 As degrees have become more common, their importance as signalling devices is rising.随着学历变得更加常见，学历作为能力证明方式的重要性正在增加。
signalling device表明...的方式。在这个语境中，可以理解为表明能力的方式（a way of proving qualifications）。如今很多大公司通过学历来对应聘者进行初筛，就是将学历作为一个signalling device。其中，device表示方式；手段。
再比如，我国的中考就是a sorting device(选拔方式/给学生分类的方式)，即：a device to sort students into academic schools and vocational ones(将学生分为走学术路线和走职业路线两部分)。
sth's importance as sth表示某事作为...的重要性。作主语时，可以与动词rise/decline搭配，表示重要性增加/降低。再比如：The importance of physical buildings as the workplace has declined amid the pandemic.实体建筑作为工作地点的重要性在此次疫情中有所下降。
5 So far, university degrees have been a reliable proxy for skill but this may change as artificial intelligence starts taking jobs away from white-collar workers.迄今为止，大学学历一直是技能的可靠代表，但随着人工智能开始从白领工作者手中夺走工作岗位，这种情况可能会改变。
proxy for sth表示...的证明。proxy for skill就类似于上面的signalling device。除此之外，还可以用indicator(标志)，常用作a adj indicator of sth：
Educational qualifications have been a reliable indicator of one's competencies.教育资历已经成为了证明个人能力的可靠标志。
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