Labor Shortage Leads to Lax Applicant Requirements

In the first half of 2018, the share of job postings requesting a college degree fell to 30 percent from 32 percent in 2017, according to an analysis by labor-market research firm Burning Glass Technologies.

The firm analyzed 15 million ads on websites such as Indeed and Craigslist.

Minimum qualifications have been drifting lower since 2012, when companies sought college graduates for 34 percent of those positions.

Long work-history requirements have also relaxed: Only 23 percent of entry-level jobs now ask applicants for three or more years of experience, compared with 29 percent back in 2012, putting an additional 1.2 million jobs in closer reach of more applicants, Burning Glass data show. Through the end of last year, a further one million new jobs were opened up to candidates with “no experience necessary,” making occupations such as e-commerce analyst and purchasing assistant available to novices and those without a degree.     

Source: Wall Street Journal  – Burning Glass Technologies.