What’s the paper ceiling?

The paper ceiling references the career advancement barriers people without a college degree experience.

62% of the workforce in the U.S. potentially has paper ceiling barriers given that about 38% of the population (age 25 and older) have a bachelor’s degree.

I hear from employers all the time that they struggle to find qualified candidates to fill open jobs.

I also read a lot of job descriptions that include a bachelor’s degree requirement.

First, rewrite your job descriptions. Next seriously consider and interview candidates that do not have a degree.

· “A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.”

That is a simple statement, and it can profoundly impact an employer’s ability to recruit the talent needed to achieve their business goals.

STAR stands for Skilled Through Alternative Routes and includes those who acquired skills via their military service, on the job training, as well as certificate and boot camp programs.

There are as many as 70 million STARS being held back by the bachelor’s degree requirements for certain jobs. And 30 million of these STARS could earn up to 70% more in salary if they had access to these jobs.

Employers need to rethink their requirements versus preferences. And their recruitment and hiring related actions need to be changed to include those who are qualified but not perfect.

Candidates need to apply even if they don’t meet all the job “requirements.”

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are just words until there are consistent actions that are in alignment with these stated goals.

Sources: Fair360, U.S. Census Bureau, Opportunity@Work

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