The workplace is evolving in a myriad of ways and one of the most unexpected changes is that employers are dropping the degree requirements for some roles. Is this the end of degree jobs? Not necessarily, but the degree requirement is being eliminated for specific roles, opening up the door for a wider range of applicants. We’ve previously seen evidence of candidates finding themselves overqualified for certain positions and struggling to find employment, and it seems that we are further heading toward a future where college degrees will no longer hold the level of importance they do now.
The no-degree job trend will be a lifesaver for some and a disappointment for many, but prioritizing skills over degrees in hiring is not a bad thing. The more that recruiters emphasize the relevant skills for a role, the easier it will be for workers to find roles that really connect with their capabilities.
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Some Employers to Drop Degree Requirement for More Roles by the End of 2025
A new report from ResumeTemplates revealed that 1 in 4 companies will stop requiring a bachelor’s degree for some of the roles they are hiring for by the end of the year. Many of them have already made the move, with 84% of companies having recently removed the degree requirement and they have found this change to be successful. How has the no-degree job trend benefitted companies?
Employers that have dropped the degree requirement have found a more diverse range of applications and what’s more, they were also able to offer lower salaries to these new hires. It’s obvious that the latter benefit is the reason that more and more employers are making the switch, which could be detrimental to workers who have spent money getting their college degrees.
The ResumeTemplates study also found that 21% of companies had already removed the bachelor’s degree requirement last year. Among those that have eliminated the requirement, around two-thirds of the change was made for entry-level roles, 54% for mid-level roles, and 23% for senior-level roles.
The trend of hiring without degrees in 2025 appears to be centered around mid-level positions, and it does add credence to the theories that companies do not want to pay higher salaries for workers advancing in their careers.
Skills Over Degrees In Hiring Can Be Beneficial to Workers
Around 7 in 10 hiring managers revealed that their company prioritizes relevant experiences over the applicant’s position of a bachelor’s degree, which employees can stand to benefit from, with or without an existing degree. The lower pay aside, getting jobs without college degrees can be very difficult for workers who are willing to work hard but don’t have the resources or opportunity to invest in higher education.
It is apparent that candidates should start prioritizing skills in their field along with improvements in their soft skills and AI knowledge. Many recruiters are now looking at candidate qualifications more closely, taking more time out to see what a candidate’s resume has to offer. AI skills are slowly becoming non-negotiable in the process of recruitment, and while the exact type of AI skills required might vary from role to role, the relevance of AI remains unchanged.
Many fresh graduates find their college degrees leave them unprepared for the workplace, so it’s more important than ever to master the ways of the workplace from other sources. From getting internships to seeking out mentors who can aid in their transition, those who aspire to enter the world of working need to spruce up their skill sets regardless of whether they have a college degree.
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