Found a stat about how many jobs expect a degree now and it kinda stunned me

I was reading an article last night from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and it said something like 35% of job postings in my area require a bachelor's degree now. Back when I started working in the late 90s, it felt like experience mattered way more. I found this stat on their website while looking up data for a career change. Has anyone else noticed how the bar keeps creeping up for entry level roles?

3 comments

3 Comments

diana_west271mo ago

Honestly that's a solid point and it matches what I've seen too. A lot of job listings are written by HR people who just copy and paste requirements without really thinking about what the actual work involves. The real test is if you can get past the first screening and show someone your portfolio or past projects.

mila_campbell251mo ago

That 35% stat from the BLS only counts job postings that explicitly list a degree though. My friend in HR says they often drop the requirement once a candidate with good experience walks through the door. Those numbers don't capture how many employers are willing to bend the rules for the right person.

josephmartin1mo ago

Respect the numbers but I see it the opposite way. Worked in IT for 20 years and watched companies drop degree requirements because they couldn't find enough people with degrees who could actually do the job. Plenty of postings still say "degree preferred" but that's just wishful thinking on the recruiter's part. I've hired guys with GEDs who picked up coding on YouTube and they ran circles around fresh college grads. The stat might be true on paper but in practice, tons of employers will ignore it if you've got real skills.