Episode: 756

Episode Title: Ditch the Degree Requirement

The real worth of an employee is not what they’ve achieved in the past, but what they’re capable of in the future. Let’s talk about it, next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 756 show: 

Welcome back to The Perna Syndicate this week! I’m your host, Mark Perna, and it’s great to have you. So let’s jump in.

A college degree used to be the golden ticket to a winning career. But now, with the rising cost of college and alternative training pathways on the rise, students are wondering if college is really worth it anymore. 

Hiring managers are wondering the same thing. After all, the real worth of an employee is not what they achieved in the past, but what they are capable of in the future. This is why hiring based on skills, rather than degrees, is gaining momentum as a way to discover top talent—no matter where that talent comes from.

According to recent data from LinkedIn, nearly 70% of jobs in the U.S. require a bachelor’s degree, but only 37% of the U.S. workforce actually has one. This disqualifies more than 50% of potential candidates—even if they have the skills to do the job.

That’s a huge mismatch. Ditching the degree requirement means less competition over a small pool of candidates. Businesses are able to directly match the skills needed for that job, and hiring practices can keep pace with the changing nature of work. It’s little wonder that skills-first hiring is catching on. 

Thanks for tuning in today! Tomorrow: how exactly does skills-first hiring improve the outcome for both companies and candidates? We will cover that and more next time on The Perna Syndicate.