Skip to content
Apply
Stories

It’s a bit like musical chairs right now’: Big employers like Google, IBM no longer require college degrees in a tight job market, but experts warn that may not last

People in this story

Dropping your kid off at college has long been a milestone for parents just as much as their teens. But is getting a degree going the way of bell bottoms, cable television and calling someone on the phone?

With a strong economy and an excess of jobs with few workers to take them, big companies like Google, IBM and Delta Air Lines have eased up on educational requirements in an effort to find hires based on skills and experience instead.

With a four-year degree perhaps seemingly not as crucial for Americans climbing the career ladder as it once was — young people might be rethinking the need for higher education as well.

“It’s a bit [like] musical chairs right now,” says Alicia Modestino, an associate professor and labor economist at Northeastern University. “We’re seeing a lot of people shift jobs, move up in the labor market. That’s great.”

Continue reading at Moneywise.

More Stories

Hurricane Helene devastates inland areas of North Carolina. Expect more damage more frequently, warns Northeastern researcher

09.30.2024

Maryland to Offer Free AI Training to State Employees

09.25.2024

What Project 2025 Could Mean for Snow Science and Avalanche Forecasting

10.03.24