WASHINGTON (TND) — Some employers are ditching college degree requirements for employees, instead embracing skills-based hiring.
According to a survey from ZipRecruiter, 45% of employers got rid of degree requirements for certain roles over the last year.
Additionally, the number of job postings on the site that listed a bachelor’s degree as a requirement dropped 10% from 2022 to 2023.
The survey found that small and medium-sized businesses – which are more likely to experience hiring challenges – were more likely to have dropped degree requirements compared to major enterprises (47% to 35%).
However, some big companies are doing the same.
For example, Walmart – the biggest private employer in the U.S. – is no longer requiring a degree for some of its corporate positions.
Other companies include Dell, Bank of America, Google and IBM.
Research from Intelligent shows this is happening the most in industries like information services, software, construction, finance and insurance.
Government jobs are also dropping degree requirements.
At least 16 states – including Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania – no longer require a four-year degree for most state jobs in efforts to improve access and retention.
The laws do, however, vary by state.
For example, Tennessee law bans state agencies from requiring a bachelor’s degree unless the position involves “knowledge, skills or abilities that can only be obtained” through one.
On the federal level, qualifications depend on what type of job you are applying for.
Several federal jobs are based on work experience, which can sometimes be as little as 3 months for assistant and clerical positions.
According to the federal employment scale – called the General Schedule – each job is given a “grade” (GS-1 through GS-15).
The higher the grade level, the higher the qualifications and the pay.
GS-2 jobs only require a high school degree (or equivalent), while GS-11 jobs require a doctorate.
ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmp5mknryvedaoqaWcX5uupMCMnJ%2Bem5tiwaatzGaqqKWVYrKuvMuosJ6qo2Kus7GMnaCtm5ieu6h506GgrGWdlrewvoyjpptlopq%2BtrXRnqSepqRisLC4y56enmWUmrSzscRmqZ6ppZ6%2FprnEp6usZaOgtq240maZmquVmXqptdGipaBlkqrAqrrErKqeq12srq25wKurZpyVoblursCnomanlmKurrHRopqaZZekvKi4xGagm6Vdlr2xuMicmK2hn6PAbrHCqKWopalit7CujKaYq6OVqQ%3D%3D