In Hawaii, bachelor’s degrees are often required for state jobs — even when the job doesn’t actually require that level of education. Requiring a degree can unnecessarily limit the pool of qualified candidates, and in some cases, those with the right experience and skills are left out simply because they don’t hold a degree.
A degree may indicate a certain set of skills, but it is by no means the only indicator of a candidate’s potential. Many roles in state government do not require a degree, but still require a specific skill set that could be attained through alternative routes.
Several states, including Maryland, Utah, Pennsylvania, and Alaska, have already enacted policies that remove degree requirements for state jobs. Hawaii should follow their lead to improve job opportunities and allow more people to enter the workforce based on skills rather than formal education credentials.
SB1065 would prohibit state agencies and departments from requiring a bachelor’s degree as a condition of eligibility for a position in state employment — unless the knowledge, skills or abilities required for the position can only reasonably be obtained through a bachelor’s degree.
