It certainly isn't hard to become a graphic designer in this age of digital desktop publishing.
In the old days, become a designer required a lot of technical training in analog printing techniques, detailed knowledge ofsilk screens, a vast knowledge of pigments and their reactions with different materials, and one almost had to become an apprentice to a 'sensei' to land a good, solid job.
Graphics design has undergone a complete revolution since then of course, and designers can skip most of the rigmaroles of technical press knowledge and focus solely on digital and digital output knowledge.
Even better, they can in theory mess up all they like and fix it.
Having a great graphics design suite will do nothing to make you a good designer though, but anybody can have a ton of fun laying down colors or images and applying special effects.
The truth is, if you can't work well with traditional medium- paper, pen, pencil, and canvas- it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to become a graphic designer.
Having said that, any armchair hobbyist or small business owner can still use these programs to their advantage.
I'm living proof of that.
Freehand, I'm a terrible artist with a bit of artistic sense.
Despite that, I successfully designed all the ads, logos, and posters for my small business for over ten years.
It wasn't that hard.
All in all, as far as the hiring of graphics designers go, I doubt that much has changed since the digital revolution.
Computers have expedited output and have made things much less expensive and easier, but all the old principles of art remain the same, and always will.
So, being a good graphics artists starts with being a good artist, period.
If you cant draw your way out of a paper bag, it's unlikely that you'll be able to drag-click your way out of one either.