Re-Thinking Entry-Level Job Requirements Can Connect Employers With the Right Talent

Employers worldwide face a growing challenge: attracting, identifying, and retaining the right talent. Traditional hiring practices, particularly those that rely on degree requirements or rigid experience criteria, may be unintentionally excluding a vast pool of capable candidates. As labour markets evolve, it has become clear that skills-based hiring offers a more effective, equitable, and urgent solution.

This approach requires a shift in mindset and changes to hiring processes, but the benefits are clear. By prioritising skills over formal qualifications, businesses can unlock access to a wider range of talent, diversify their workforce, and ultimately boost performance.

Why Degree Requirements Are a Barrier to Accessing Talent

For decades, degree requirements have served as a proxy for job readiness. However, research shows that this approach often overlooks capable candidates who have the right skills but lack formal credentials.

According to our research, 53% of surveyed employers said they had difficulty filling entry-level positions. Despite this, many continue to list degrees as mandatory requirements, even for roles where a degree has little bearing on job performance. This ‘degree inflation’ creates unnecessary barriers for job seekers, particularly those from underrepresented or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Key barriers created by degree requirements include:

Talent shortages: Employers narrow their candidate pool by excluding skilled individuals without formal qualifications.
Bias and inequity: Marginalised communities are disproportionately affected by degree requirements, limiting diversity in hiring.
Missed potential: Job seekers with non-traditional career paths or alternative training are often overlooked despite having the right competencies.

As a result, companies may face longer recruitment cycles, higher vacancy costs, and weaker talent pipelines – all of which limits their ability to be competitive.

The Shift Towards Skills-Based Hiring

Skills-based hiring focuses on the tangible abilities a candidate possesses rather than their educational credentials or years of experience. It prioritises competencies that can be demonstrated, assessed, and applied to real-world tasks. This approach allows employers to tap into hidden talent pools and identify candidates who can quickly adapt to changing business needs.

How Does Skills-Based Hiring Work?

Competency-focused job descriptions: Instead of listing degrees or experience, employers outline essential skills required for success in the role.
Skills assessments and practical tests: Candidates demonstrate their abilities through tasks, simulations, or technical challenges.
Alternative pathways to employment: By recognising training, certifications, and industry-specific credentials — rather than traditional academic degrees only — employers gain access to a wider range of candidates.

This approach benefits both employers and candidates. For businesses, it expands the talent pipeline, reduces hiring time, and enhances employee performance and retention. For job seekers, it opens doors to opportunities that might have previously been out of reach.

The Case for Change: Why Employers Must Act Now

Employers who adopt skills-based hiring are better positioned to weather economic fluctuations and technological disruption. As automation and artificial intelligence reshape industries, the skills required for many jobs are changing. Businesses need to be agile in their talent recruitment, and skills-based hiring supports this agility.

Here’s why change is essential:

Stay competitive in a tight labour market: By broadening candidate criteria, employers fill vacancies faster and more efficiently.
Foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI): Removing degree requirements reduces bias and opens doors to candidates from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Mitigate talent shortages: As digital transformation accelerates, demand for certain technical and interpersonal skills has surged. Skills-based hiring allows employers to fill these gaps with precision.

Graduates of our skills-based employment programmes — 72% of whom do not hold university degrees — consistently impress employers. Of 18,000+ employer partners who have hired our graduates, 85% would definitely hire Generation graduates again. Additionally, 79% of employed graduates hired in the last 12 months were hired by repeat employers, showcasing the standout quality of their talent. Focusing on skills, not degrees, leads to an improved recruitment strategy and better hiring outcomes.

How Employers Can Get Started With Skills-Based Hiring

Transitioning to skills-based hiring may seem daunting, but there are clear, actionable steps to begin the process:

Redesign job descriptions: Remove degree requirements and replace them with a list of essential skills.
Invest in skills assessment tools: Evaluations like technical tests, work samples, and on-the-job challenges can help identify top candidates.
Offer apprenticeships and on-the-job training: Providing in-house development opportunities can bridge skills gaps and build a pipeline of loyal employees.
Partner with organisations: Partnering with providers like Generation allows employers to access pre-vetted, skilled candidates trained for specific roles.

Partner With Generation to Connect With Skilled Talent

If your organisation is ready to move beyond outdated hiring practices, Generation is here to help. Generation partners with employers to create a pipeline of job-ready candidates who possess the critical skills needed for success.

Our innovative model equips candidates with both technical and behavioural skills, offering a win-win for businesses and job seekers. Employers gain access to a diverse pool of talent, while candidates receive the tools they need to thrive in the workforce.

With a proven track record of improving hiring outcomes for employers across multiple sectors, Generation is the ideal partner for businesses seeking to future-proof their talent strategy.

Don’t let degree requirements stand in the way of finding the right talent. Rethink your hiring strategy, embrace skills-based hiring, and partner with Generation to access a world of skilled, driven, and diverse candidates.

At Generation, we are making a life-changing career available to anyone, anywhere. Explore our employment programmes to see the professions we support, or donate today to help us create career opportunities for our learners!

I want to donate.