Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Benefits of Removing Degree Requirements for State Jobs in North Carolina
For decades, a college degree has been a default requirement for government jobs, regardless of whether the role truly demands it. While a degree can certainly signal skills and dedication, it’s far from the only path to competency. By removing blanket degree requirements, North Carolina is recognizing that skills, experience, and alternative training can be just as valuable.
In a significant move toward expanding opportunity and equity, North Carolina has joined a growing list of states reconsidering the role of college degrees in public hiring. In March 2023, former Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order No. 278, which eliminated degree requirements for most state jobs, and shifted the focus to skills, experience, and competencies. This policy change aligns with a national trend, recognizing that real-world experience and alternative credentials often rival—or exceed—the value of a four-year degree.
Here’s why this policy shift matters for North Carolina’s workforce, economy, and future:
Broadening the Talent Pool
The North Carolina Office of State Human Resources reports that nearly 75% of the state’s job postings in recent years included degree requirements. However, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, just 34.9% of North Carolina adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. By removing unnecessary degree barriers, the state is opening thousands of job opportunities to the majority of its residents. This is especially impactful in rural counties, where access to higher education is often limited by cost and geography.
Promoting Equity and Inclusion
Degree requirements have historically excluded qualified candidates—especially from marginalized communities. Data from the North Carolina Justice Center reveals that systemic barriers to higher education disproportionately affect Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous populations in the state.
By removing these hurdles, North Carolina is addressing long-standing inequities in access to stable, well-paying public sector jobs.
Addressing Workforce Shortages
State agencies face challenges filling essential roles, from IT and public health to transportation and environmental services.
Skills-based hiring helps close this gap. It enables the state to tap into a broader pool of candidates who may have gained expertise through apprenticeships, military service, technical training, or on-the-job learning. For example, a skilled IT technician with certifications and five years of hands-on experience is now eligible for roles that once required a computer science degree.
Boosting Economic Mobility
Removing degree requirements helps North Carolinians access higher-paying, stable employment, which can be life-changing for individuals and their families. According to NC Commerce Labor & Economic Analysis, public sector jobs often offer better benefits and job security than comparable roles in the private sector.
These jobs serve as crucial rungs on the economic ladder—especially for those transitioning out of lower-wage service work, the justice system, or military service. By valuing skills over formal education, the state is investing in the upward mobility of its workforce.
North Carolina has already committed to workforce development through programs like NCWorks and the NC Apprenticeship Program. Aligning hiring practices with these initiatives makes the state a model employer that walks the talk on economic inclusion.
Encouraging Lifelong Learning Over One-Time Credentials
A growing number of North Carolinians are pursuing alternative credentials such as community college certificates, online coursework, and industry certifications. The state’s myFutureNCinitiative emphasizes credential attainment as a key to a thriving economy—but not all credentials require a four-year degree.
By aligning hiring practices with this evolving education landscape, North Carolina affirms that learning doesn’t stop at graduation—it’s a lifelong process.
Looking Ahead
The removal of degree requirements is more than a policy tweak—it’s a paradigm shift. It signals that North Carolina values what people can do, not just where they went to school. As this policy takes root, it offers a model for inclusive, agile, and future-ready government.