Federal, state, and local governments have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the trajectory of the labor market. STARs and skills-centered policy and practices are core to getting it right.
Over 60% of workers in the United States do not have a bachelor’s degree, yet almost 70% of new jobs created screen for one, even if it is not required to obtain the skills to do the job.
The success of the U.S. economy – including business growth potential – necessitates that our labor market acknowledges and taps into the talents of all workers.
By focusing on skills rather than pedigree, the public sector can tap into more than 70 million STARs – half the U.S. workforce – who have the skills needed for many of the jobs being created by public investment but are often screened out by degree requirements.
Here’s how the STARs Policy team can help:
Public Sector Employment Practice Change Policy Design and Implementation Regional Workforce Strategy We provide the data, insights, and know-how to help government hire and advance STARs employment to address their labor needs We equip policy makers with the research and insights needed to bring a STARs-lens to the design, funding, and implementation of policies to build a more equitable and inclusive labor market and workforce system We enable government leaders to leverage their convening power to influence and engage businesses in practice change to advance skills-based practices, which open opportunities for STARs.
Join us to accelerate the movement around skills and STARs at the STARs Public Sector Hub.
Opportunity@Work helps government leaders understand the critical role STARs can play in their hiring strategies and in their region’s workforce. We work with those leaders to implement hiring practices that will help government entities and regional businesses find the skilled, diverse talent they need.
To address Maryland’s labor shortage, Governor Larry Hogan signed an executive order to remove degree requirements from most state jobs in 2022.
19,000 Number of jobs from which Maryland removed degree requirements | 1.3 million Number of STARs in Maryland who got the opportunity to apply for those jobs | 41 Percent increase in STAR hiring in Maryland year-over-year after removing degree requirements |
*States identified with Executive Orders may have removed degree requirements through administrative authority of the governor
Read our latest Brookings Institute blog on how states are leading the effort to remove degree requirements from government jobs.
Read our Brookings Institute blog post explaining how states are tearing the ‘paper ceiling’ and making good jobs available to workers without degrees.
Watch our testimony before the congressional subcommittee for US Education and the Workforce about the need to transition to a skills-based economy.
Watch Maryland’s former Governor Larry Hogan’s fireside chat with Jobs for the Future on implementing bipartisan policies to create a more inclusive job market.
