BUZZGov. Mike Braun notes 66 percent of Hoosiers don’t have college degrees
New Indiana Governor Mike Braun became the latest to make an effort to remove unnecessary college degree requirements from state jobs.
Gov. Braun, who took office earlier this week, signed an executive order directing the state personnel department to review job descriptions and determine which ones do not really need a college degree.
His order notes that “two-thirds of Hoosiers do not have a postsecondary degree or higher.”
The executive order also says “skills-based hiring practices can address labor shortages and provide additional pathways for worker advancement by prioritizing abilities and experience over formal postsecondary educational credentials.”
Today, I’m excited to announce a series of bold actions that will make Indiana’s state government leaner, more efficient, and better aligned with the needs of Hoosiers.
Through these Executive Orders, we are delivering on our promise to streamline operations, enhance… pic.twitter.com/Lw1ziMuMI6
— Governor Mike Braun (@GovBraun) January 15, 2025
Indiana is the latest state to challenge the necessity of a college degree. The idea of removing degree requirements from some government jobs has attracted bipartisan support.
Just recently, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom eliminated degree requirements for 30,000 government jobs.
“This effort is part of the Newsom administration’s work to modernize state government and improve the hiring process by removing unnecessary barriers to public service jobs,” the governor’s office stated in a news release.
Newsom plans to double the number of jobs not requiring a college degree, pending negotiations with unions, The Center Square recently reported.
Other states including Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Utah have made similar decisions.
The mayor of Philadelphia made a similar move in early 2024, as previously reported by The College Fix.
“We will continue to remove college degree requirements for many City of Philadelphia jobs where it is unnecessary,” Democrat Mayor Cherelle Parker announced in January of last year.
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IMAGE: Mike Braun/X