In years past, having a college degree was required for almost every salaried job—and many hourly jobs, as well. Candidates who didn't have a degree often would lose out on opportunities and struggle to advance their careers.
Recently, widespread talent shortages and a number of other cultural shifts have prompted more employers to revisit that requirement.
About two-thirds of working-age adults (64 percent) do not hold a bachelor's degree, and undergraduate college enrollment fell by 8 percent from 2019 to 2022. The share of jobs that require a college degree fell to 44 percent last year, down from 51 percent in 2017, according to research from the Burning Glass Institute.
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Why Fewer Employers Are Requiring College Degrees
SHRM | Sep 2023
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Consider Google’s approach. In 2020, they stepped into the spotlight as another major player to do away with degree requirements. Why? They recognized that the workplace is changing, and skills like problem-solving and critical thinking are often honed outside the classroom.
More and more employers like Google are realizing that conventional educational routes may not keep pace with the demands of today’s dynamic work environment. The skills businesses need most are those nurtured through hands-on challenges, not just acquired in lecture halls.
Is it time to rethink your college degree requirement?
Randstad | Aug 2024
It’s becoming easier to get a corporate job without a college degree: 1 in 3 companies say they no longer list educational requirements on their salaried job postings, according to Payscale’s latest compensation best practices report.
Still, it’s most common for companies, 41%, to say college degree requirements depend on the job, while a minority, 22%, say all of their jobs have a degree as a requirement. Payscale’s analysis surveyed more than 5,700 business leaders and HR pros in late 2023.
1 in 3 companies are ditching college degree requirements for salaried jobs
CNBC | Mar 2024
Forty-five percent of companies plan to eliminate bachelor’s degree requirements for some positions in 2024, according to a Nov. 29 report from Intelligent.com.
In 2023, 55% of companies removed degree requirements, particularly for entry-level and mid-level roles, the survey shows. Employers said they dropped these requirements to create a more diverse workforce, increase the number of applicants for open positions and because there are other ways to gain skills.
“Due to the expense of attending college, earning a bachelor’s degree is generally more difficult for people from traditionally marginalized groups and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds,” Diane Gayeski, higher education advisor for Intelligent.com and professor of strategic communication at Ithaca College, said in a statement.
Nearly half of companies say they plan to eliminate bachelor’s degree requirements in 2024
HR Dive | Dec 2023
Alternative Credentials
Alternative Credentials Key to Meeting Labor Needs
NSPA | Jan 2024
Do you need a college degree? Alternative credentials might be a better option
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Employers Claim to Value Alternative Credentials. Do Their Practices Match Their Promises?
EdSurge | Apr 2022
Examples of Education and Experience Equivalency Charts
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