California nixes degree requirements for 30K state jobs
Laura Spitalniak
December 17, 2024
The move is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s broader push to create better career pathways for residents, including those who don’t have college diplomas.
Dive Brief:
California removed college degrees and other educational requirements from almost 30,000 state jobs, the governor’s office announced Monday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom also proposed rolling back such requirements for another 32,000 state jobs as early as next year. California officials are negotiating the proposal with the state’s labor unions.
Removing the degree requirements is part of a statewide initiative to establish high-paying career paths for workers, including those without college degrees. Newsom announced that the final version of his “Master Plan for Career Education” will be released early next year.
Dive Insight:
States and private companies have increasingly moved away from requiring four-year degrees to fill certain jobs, citing the need for a wider talent pool. When Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced his own state would nix degree requirements for most state jobs, he criticized them as prioritizing “a piece of paper” over “demonstrated competence.”
