Fewer than 40 percent of Americans have a college degree. As the economy grows ever more dependent on a highly skilled workforce, this statistic speaks volumes about the future prosperity of the nation and its least-advantaged members. It also raises a critical question: What is being done to improve the educational attainment of the workforce? The Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED) addressed this question and examined how employers in four metropolitan regions are supporting the education of their employees. Data collected from business leaders in Detroit, Memphis, New York City, and Miami addressed the following questions: (1) What specific practices do companies use to support the education and skill development of their employees?; (2) What barriers or challenges do employers face in doing more?; (3) Why are companies investing resources in educational benefits and programs?; (4) How are employers working with institutions of higher education and other partners, and what makes these partnerships work?; and (5) What role does place-city or metropolitan region-play in making efforts more effective on a larger scale? Focus groups were held with business representatives between January and April 2014 in the four cities, followed by a series of additional interviews to gain a more in-depth understanding of the cities' economic climates and opportunities. Attendees came from companies ranging from small, family-owned firms to global Fortune 500 companies and represented an array of industries, including finance, manufacturing, healthcare, entertainment, and logistics. This report will discuss the importance of postsecondary educational attainment both for individuals and for companies, present the results of the focus group and interview research, and conclude with a set of recommendations for employers, employees, higher education leaders and policymakers. [For the executive summary of this report "The Role of Business in Promoting Educational Attainment: A National Imperative. Executive Summary," see ED593271.]