In a tight labor market, businesses debut on-the-job training and drop college degree requirements

Why employers should be open to ditching college degree requirements when hiring

1. Reinforces diversity of thought

   – By opening the application process to all candidates, businesses can employ more people with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Having workers from diverse frameworks and perspectives can help them create better, more authentic products and services. Diversity of thoughts, ideas, beliefs and backgrounds can make any organization stronger, and this can begin with something as basic as changing the educational requirements for future job listings. 



2. Eliminates redundant barriers for job applicants

   – According to research from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, college enrollments dropped by 6.8% in 2020. This is more than quadruple the pre-pandemic rate of decline, especially among students of color from low-income communities. For many people, a college education is often more suggestive of access than aptitude. 
Even in 2021, many Americans face countless barriers and discrimination because of their sexuality, ethnicity or economic class. Therefore, employers need to look beyond college degrees and focus more on the life skills of applicants. By eliminating the requirement for a college education for job seekers, they can open the door to highly skilled and highly capable candidates who simply may not have had the opportunity, means or financial backing required to obtain a college degree.

3. Makes it easier for companies to find skilled applicants

   –It has become increasingly difficult for people to find jobs without bachelor’s degrees, especially when it comes to achieving upward job mobility. Despite that, 83% of HR professionals reported difficulty recruiting, according to research by SHRM. 
Now, with about 10.4 million open positions in the U.S. alone, businesses may need to turn to candidates they might not have even considered in the past.

4. Recognizes other ways of gaining experience

   - A study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York revealed that only 27% of college graduates have a job related to their major. This highlights the importance of past experience compared to what the individual studied in college. Since “65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don’t yet exist,” according to the World Economic Forum, it is crucial that companies are open to hiring workers who can adapt to new systems and ways of thinking.

Authors

Neha De

Neha De is a writer and editor with more than 13 years of experience. She has worked on a variety of genres and platforms, including books, magazine articles, blog posts and website copy. She is passionate about producing clear and concise content that is engaging and informative. In her spare time, Neha enjoys dancing, running and spending time with her family.