Hiring Focused on Skills Over Degrees Gets Boost in Pending Law

Efforts to scale back degree requirements to create inclusive employment practices and attract high-skilled workers will make gains with new federal requirements for agency hiring managers to prioritize skills when evaluating job applicants.

President Joe Biden is expected to sign the Chance to Compete Act into law before his term ends, which aims to overhaul the recruiting and hiring process for federal government jobs to ensure applicants are judged based on their skill sets and competencies, not traditional education accolades.

The legislation, passed Dec. 16, adds momentum to a growing movement among public and private sector employers like Bank of ...