Want a job? You may no longer need a degree, according to LinkedIn

College or university has been a traditional rite of passage for decades, with millions of young people seeing higher education as one of the only ways to bag a job.

Recently, however, there has been a rise in the number of jobs not requiring degrees, as well as other alternatives to higher education, which may offer lead to interesting job and career opportunities further down the line. These include apprenticeships, work placements, trade schools, internships, certifications and other short courses and more. 

There has been a 14.2% increase in the number of UK job postings not needing degrees since 2021, according to a recent study from LinkedIn.

This is reportedly due to businesses focusing more on soft skills such as adaptability and collaboration, which cannot be measured in degree terms but is resulting in a change in hiring methods.

Companies are also increasingly realising that technical and job-specific skills can be more easily taught to a variety of entry-level candidates.

Specific skills sets increasingly valued

LinkedIn data also highlighted that hiring personnel were five times more likely to look for candidates with specific skill sets, rather than college degrees. 

Janine Chamberlin, UK country manager at LinkedIn, said in an email note: “It’s important to know that there are many different routes to successful careers. The world of work is changing quickly particularly in the age of AI – and businesses are rethinking the way they hire and train people to mitigate against emerging skills gaps. 

“Businesses are increasingly recognising that degrees are not the only way to identify quality candidates.

“And particularly for entry-level roles – we’re seeing businesses hiring for transferable soft skills, including teamwork and communication, and then training for specific job roles to make sure they have the people they need in the right roles, with the right skills, at the right time.” 

Number of job postings for apprenticeships surge

Apprenticeships are increasingly being seen as a viable alternative to full-time university, sometimes providing better access to certain sectors and more lucrative job opportunities later on.  

The number of job postings for apprenticeships in sectors such as utilities surged 60.6%, whereas retail apprenticeship postings rose 58.7% and technology ones jumped 16.2%, according to LinkIn. 

Helen Bradbury, chief people officer at E.ON UK, said: “We know many young people are now wanting to go straight into employment to get a head start on their careers. At E.ON, we’re proud to offer a variety of pathways to build successful careers, regardless of pupils’ educational background. 

“Our apprenticeships are focused on ensuring our apprentices develop the future skills needed to thrive and are designed to provide both practical experience and academic learning, allowing apprentices to earn while they learn and gain valuable skills that are directly applicable to their roles. 

“We also offer a variety of entry-level roles for those without degrees. These roles serve as a springboard into a rewarding career and provide comprehensive on-the-job training and development opportunities, ensuring that our colleagues have the tools and support they need to thrive and progress within the company.” 

UK businesses increasingly valuing soft skills as AI advances

With the UK job landscape changing so quickly, businesses are increasingly placing importance on soft skills more than degrees. This has been exacerbated by the dramatic changes made in artificial intelligence (AI) over the past few years. 

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LinkedIn estimates that the skills UK jobs require are likely to change 65% by 2030 from what they were in 2016, helped mainly by AI advancements. 

As such, nine out of 10 UK employers feel that soft skills are of paramount importance, with the five most demanded skills for UK businesses being customer service, leadership, communication, management and teamwork. 

Gemma Aldridge, head of talent acquisition for UK and Ireland at Siemens, said: “Our commitment to apprenticeships and a hiring philosophy that values potential over experience and qualifications allows us to tap into a diverse talent pool and drive innovation. Our focus on potential means we look beyond traditional metrics, recognising the unique capabilities and perspectives that each individual brings to the table. 

“This inclusive approach fosters a culture of continuous learning and adaptability, essential for thriving in today’s dynamic environment. We are not just addressing the skills gap; we are creating a future-ready workforce that is innovative, resilient, and capable of driving progress in a rapidly changing world.” 

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Companies more open to offering training and support

Along with being more open to hiring entry-level candidates with no university degrees, companies are now also more willing to offer training to help support learning job-related technical requirements. This includes training in areas such as customer service, technical support and administrative support. 

As well as training, a number of companies are also being more proactive in ensuring their apprenticeship and work placement opportunities reach all sectors of society.

James Goodman, Tesco UK people director, said: “We’re really passionate about supporting young people to find the right career path for them, which is why we offer a number of programmes from work placements to apprenticeships to help them into work.

“We know some young people need a little more support to get on, which is why we recently launched our Stronger Starts Apprenticeships programme to give 150 young people from deprived areas the opportunity to gain a Level 2 National Standard in Retail, without any prior qualifications. We want to help young people onto the work ladder and to make the first step in an exciting and rewarding career with us.”

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Hiring intensity increases in September

Another LinkedIn study revealed that companies hire more in September, as job applications increase, following people’s return from summer holidays. This is also the time that most new graduates enter the workforce.

The UK usually sees a hiring spike of about 44% in September, according to LinkedIn.

This is in contrast to Italy seeing rises of around 26% in the month while recruitment in France more than doubles in September. Dutch recruitment rises some 65% while Spain sees a rise of about 28%.

Job seeking has grown this year, with the Netherlands, Germany and France all seeing a 10% rise in job searches in the first half of this year.

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Job seekers are mainly applying for tech, information and media roles, with professional services jobs also getting a lot of interest. Financial services roles are also seeing a significant number of searches and applications. 

On the other hand, utilities, tech, information and media, as well as government administration are some of the sectors hiring the most globally at present. 

Josh Graff, managing director EMEA & LATAM at LinkedIn, said in an email note: “Across Europe, this month is a ‘back-to-school’ moment for many businesses, with the UK, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands typically seeing a September spike in hiring. LinkedIn data shows that workers in Europe are becoming more intense in their job search, with job seekers applying for more roles. 

“The UK now has the third highest job seeking intensity of anywhere in the world, and we’re seeing similar trends in France, Germany and the Netherlands.”

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