FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- High school graduates in Florida are increasingly skipping college.

That's according to a recent report from the state Department of Education.

Researchers found about 35 percent of Florida's 2009 graduates had no plans to attend college, two points above the 33 percent recorded in 2008 and worse than the national average of 30 percent.

Some of the department's survey respondents said they would attend a trade school or enter the military, but most said they had no plans for further education. That's bothersome to officials trying to increase the population of learned, high-wage workers.

In a recent application for federal money, the state said it hoped to double by 2015 the percentage of high school graduates who attend at least a year of college.

Carl Palestino said he has a high school education, but doesn't have a college degree. He made the decision to learn a trade, which is why he enrolled in the Tulsa Welding School.

"The economy was bad. There wasn't a lot of work out there," Palestino said. "If you don't get a four-year degree, you need to do something. Because if not, no one's going to hire you."

Seventy percent of Duval County students said they would pursue some kind of education, and 76 percent said the same in St. Johns County, along with 75 percent in Baker County, 85 percent in Nassau County and 43 percent in Clay County.

"The one thing we know about this recession is that people with high school education are faring worse," said Candace Moody of WorkSource.

Moody said some reasons why teens aren't pursuing college include cost and not knowing what they want to do.

If you're in the latter category, she suggests, "Think about going into the work force. Most entry-level jobs will at the least teach you what you don't want to do."

Moody said once you do know what you want to do, statistics prove you'll always earn more money if you can get some kind of training or degree.

Palestino said his training makes a big difference financially.

"Unless they want to work for minimum wage, I advise them to get out and do something," he said.