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Outdated Mindsets and Degree Stigmas: Cengage Group's 2022 Employability Report Reveals What's Really Causing the Talent Crunch
BOSTON, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- While U.S. employers say they're facing a talent crisis that's threating their business sustainability and growth, the reality is that employers are contributing to the talent crisis with the majority (62 percent) requiring degrees for entry level jobs, and more than a quarter (26 percent) admitting they do so to "filter the candidate pool" or because "that's the way it's always been done." Exposing this outdated mindset, Cengage Group's 2022 Employability Report (Part 2) of 1,000 U.S. hiring decision makers reveals that one of the biggest drivers causing the talent crisis is the skills mismatch between the current workforce and employers' needs. By requiring a degree and not focusing on a candidate's skills or experience, employers are substantially shrinking their potential talent pool; only 38 percent of U.S. adults have a four-year degree.1 These degree requirements and employers' mixed messages about what's actually needed for job eligibility caused half of all recent graduates not to apply for entry-level jobs because they didn't feel qualified.2 While employers continue to implement outdated degree requirements, they seemingly contradict themselves by ranking skills training credentials (43 percent) and real-world experience (28 percent) more important than a two- or four-year degree (26 percent) when considering an entry-level candidate. "Employers seem to be stuck in a contradictory cycle, where they recognize that a degree is not an indicator of job readiness, but nonetheless require them as part of their candidate screening process. This outdated mindset and degree stigma is not only widening the labor gap, it's costing businesses time and money and turning away potential talent," said Michael Hansen, CEO of Cengage Group. And change is slow with just one in 10 employers (nine percent) saying they don't require a degree to apply for entry-level jobs. Nearly half (48 percent) of employers who don't require a degree say it's because they believe candidates can attain the proper skills through life experience, internships, skills training credentials, stackable credentials and hands-on experience outside of an institution. "For a number of fields, including several in-demand industries like healthcare, technology and skilled trades, the future of work – thanks to the accelerating pace of technological change – will not depend only on a degree. It will instead focus on a candidates' skills, experiences and potential to upskill or train in new fields. Employers need to make changes to hiring practices. However, removing degree requirements is not a simple 'top-down' policy change, it requires a full-blow change effort to make sure hiring managersare actually comfortable overturning a decades-old practice," said Hansen. Other findings include:
Click here for more information on the 2022 Employability Report, or join Cengage Group CEO Michael Hansen on Aug. 18 at 3pm EST for our next LinkedIn Live discussion on skills-based education and hiring featuring Maria Flynn, President and CEO of Jobs for the Future, and Matt Sigelman, President of Burning Glass Institute. To learn more about workforce training and career development at Cengage Group, visit www.cengagegroup.com. Survey Methodology: Cengage Group's Employability Report was conducted in May 2022 and polled 1,000 U.S. hiring decision makers. This survey was conducted direct-to-consumer via mobile devices. For the purposes of this survey, "skills training," "skills training program" or "skills training credential" refers to any credential that is recognized by an independent industry association, including but not limited to licensure such as in the skilled building trades, CompTIA certification, pharmacy tech certification, certified information security professional, etc.). About Cengage Group With more than 100 years serving learners, Cengage Group is a global edtech company that enables student choice. No matter how, where, when or why someone wants to learn, our portfolio of education businesses supports all students, from middle school through graduate school and skills education, with quality content and technology. Collectively, our three business units -- Cengage Academic, Cengage Work and Cengage Select -- help millions of students each year in more than 125 countries achieve their education and career goals and lead choice-filled lives. Visit us at cengagegroup.com or find us on LinkedIn or Twitter. 1Pew Research, 2022: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/04/12/10-facts-about-todays-college-graduates/ 2Cengage Graduate Employability Report, 2022: https://cengage.widen.net/s/kwsvrrpz6z/cg-employability-survey-report---final CONTACT: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/outdated-mindsets-and-degree-stigmas-cengage-groups-2022-employability-report-reveals-whats-really-causing-the-talent-crunch-301589897.html SOURCE Cengage Group |