Pennsylvania Dumps Degree Requirement for 65,000 Jobs, Emphasizes Practical Experience

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Pennsylvania is making significant moves in the field of government employment.

Governor. Josh Shapiro signed the first executive order. It was immediately effective.

The following is the Press release:

[The governor] announced that…92 percent of state government jobs — about 65,000 positions — do not require a four-year college degree.

Executive Order 2023–03 instructs “the Office of Administration to emphasize skills and experience in Commonwealth job postings.” The order also directs that a review be done “of the remaining eight percent of state government jobs that currently require a four-year degree.”

It is time to put a new emphasis on:

[The governor]…ordered all state agencies under his jurisdiction to take steps to emphasize work experience in their hiring.

The website is available for those who wish to apply for the new positions. Employment.pa.gov An aspiring employee can now apply for thousands of jobs that do not require a degree.

As quoted in News BriefDemocratic Gov. Josh Hailed freedom:

“Every Pennsylvanian should have the freedom to chart their own course and have a real opportunity to succeed. They should get to decide what’s best for them – whether they want to go to college or straight into the workforce – not have that decided for them. Today, we are making sure Pennsylvanians know that the doors of opportunity are wide open to those who want to serve our Commonwealth, regardless of whether or not they have a degree. I want to make it clear to all Pennsylvanians, whether they went to college or they gained experience through work, job training, or an apprenticeship program: We value your skills and talents, and we want you to apply for a job with the Commonwealth.”

Many people could be benefited, as highlighted by The College Fix, U.S. Census Data shows that over 66% of Pennsylvanians don’t have a bachelor’s degree.

Pennsylvania isn’t alone in its effort to make publicly-funded positions available to more applicants. Maryland was awarded a public-funded position last March. Axited Its degree requirement. It is also required that I Covered Utah made the same change on January 1, 2010. Republican Gov. Spencer explained this:

“Degrees have become a blanketed barrier-to-entry in too many jobs. Instead of focusing on demonstrated competence, the focus too often has been on a piece of paper. We are changing that.”

The meaning of a college degree appears to have been drastically changed. Social engineering appears to have taken over the emphasis on academics. Furthermore, as even secretarial positions have begun mandating degrees, more people are going to secondary school — it’s no longer just for high school brainiacs. Hence, those graduating from college aren’t necessarily the cream of the scholarly crop in the way they once were.

But even if the above is a mischaracterization, most American jobs are the sort that can be — and, ordinarily, are — learned via on-the-job training. And a degree doesn’t necessarily make someone more likely to perform well at the tasks for which they train.

Tax-funded positions aren’t the only ones set for transformation. Photo by CNBC:

In order to have enough talent in a labor market that is challenging, tech companies have tried upskilling, recalibration, and faster background checks. Now they’re trying something else: requiring no college degrees. To increase their talent pool, many companies focus instead on skills-based recruiting.

Perhaps the end to college degree requirements in government jobs is one progressive path forged by public officials that’s poised to improve society. Pennsylvania seems to be hoping so.

From EO 2023-3:

[T]here is an unprecedented demand for labor throughout the Commonwealth, which requires the government to be flexible and innovative in hiring and retaining a talented workforce capable of serving the people of Pennsylvania…. … [R]ecognizing professional backgrounds that are based on skill, competency, and practical experience over educational accomplishments can promote innovation and diverse perspectives in the workplace… [I]n the modern labor market, applicants gain knowledge, skills, and abilities through a variety of means — including apprenticeships, on-the-job training, military training, and trade schools… … [M]odernizing the Commonwealth’s hiring model to a model focused on skill, competency, and practical experience — rather than just educational background — will offer new opportunities for all Pennsylvanians to succeed professionally…

-ALEX

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