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Following the sharp rise in the new technologies of information and communication, economic studies stress the growing importance of investment in human capital and its crucial role in innovation. Even though raising the overall educational standards and diversifying courses in vocational training seem necessary, there are some negative effects to be pointed out and analyzed. In a competitive labor market, the race for diplomas is not an absolute guarantee of access to qualified jobs and sometimes leads to a drop in professional status. Moreover, company-based training schemes (sandwich courses, continuing training) only apply selectively and do not guarantee equal access to training resources. These phenomena result in a widening gap in professional and salary paths, a source of long-lasting inequalities in a knowledge-based economy.