Employers are more open to new ways of finding and evaluating job candidates, and those that move swiftly in this direction will build more resilient teams. Broader talent poolWhen employers use degrees as a proxy for skills, they miss out on half of the workforce, as Opportunity@Work’s research has shown. LinkedIn data suggests that certain industries – like professional services, finance and tech – are some of the hardest sectors for workers without bachelor’s degrees to break into. It can also spur greater diversity, since 61% of Black workers, 55% of Hispanic workers, 66% of rural workers and 61% of veteran workers have in-demand skills but not bachelor’s degrees. Recognizing the diverse ways skills are acquired and adopting a skills-first approach to talent will bring greater transparency, efficiency and equity to the labor market, making it easier for anyone from anywhere to achieve anything.

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