The COVID-19 pandemic gave job seekers greater leverage, while the racial and social justice movement spurred by the police killing of George Floyd prompted many HR leaders to reconsider old standards for hiring that could also help boost diversity and equity.
“The skills-first approach really came about because we realized that the way that companies traditionally hired—that really strong linkage between educational attainment and employment—wasn’t necessarily the most inclusive method of hiring,” said Kelli Jordan, director of IBM Career, Skills and Performance.
IBM has distinguished itself as one of the first companies to end degree requirements for some jobs five years ago. With nearly 66% of Americans not having a bachelor’s degree, “if you’re requiring that on your job postings, you’re automatically excluding a huge portion of the population that may actually have the qualifications,” Jordan notes.