Virginia to waive college degree requirements for most state agency jobs

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced this week that 90% of state agencies jobs will no longer require college degrees or give hiring preference to candidates with a college education.

“This landmark change in hiring practices for our state workforce will improve hiring processes, expand possibilities and career paths for job seekers and enhance our ability to deliver quality services,” Youngkin said in a Tuesday statement.

The new policy will take effect July 1.

Virginia state agencies advertise more than 20,000 job openings each year, according to a statement from the governor’s office. Virginia Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater said waiving educational requirements will ensure all applicants are given equal consideration.

“We have opened a sea of opportunity at all levels of employment for industrious individuals who have the experience, training, knowledge, skills, abilities, and most importantly, the desire to serve the people of Virginia,” he said in a statement.

The new policy also earned praise from Betsy DeVos, who served as U.S. Secretary of Education under President Donald Trump.

“Another smart move by (Youngkin),” she wrote on Twitter. “There is no valid reason for blanket degree requirements.”

Nationwide, there’s been a recent push to eliminate educational requirements for job applicants.

From state governments, including Maryland and Pennsylvania, to tech companies and schools in Arizona, more employers seem willing to waive the requirement for a four-year degree.

About 62% of residents over the age of 25 do not hold a bachelor’s degree, according to the U.S. Census.

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com