Empowering Progress

Harnessing Skills-Based Strategies to Drive Public Sector Excellence

LC version of NGA report cover - header

Skills-Based Hiring Policies on the Rise

>50%

US States Are Moving Toward Skills-Based Hiring

22/25

States with Skills-Based Policies Saw Their Share of Job Postings Without a Degree Increase

10.4M

US Jobs Could Benefit from Skills-Based Hiring in Public Administration

"To harness the full potential of skills-based hiring and mitigate staffing shortfalls, state and territory governments can continue to lead by example. By expanding skills-based hiring, states and territories not only address critical workforce shortages but also cultivate a more dynamic, diverse, and adaptable public sector workforce.”

Skills-based hiring is transforming how the public sector acquires talent by prioritizing a candidate’s skills, competencies, and relevant work experience over traditional qualifications like degrees or job titles. This approach addresses limitations of traditional hiring methods, such as poor job fits and narrow candidate pools.


The National Governors Association (NGA), with data analysis provided by Lightcast, has partnered to examine this shift and its impact on state and territory governments. The Empowering Progress report details how states are enacting policies to prioritize skills, address workforce shortages, promote diversity, and improve hiring outcomes.

Report Highlights

Percent of postings requiring a degree
States and territories integrating skills-based hiring

Skills-Based Hiring in Action

Several states are leading the way in implementing skills-based hiring:

  • Maryland: Since Maryland dropped bachelor's degree requirements in 2022, no-degree job postings have increased from 32% to 47% (by 2024)

  • Colorado: Colorado is modernizing its labor exchange to focus on skills-based hiring, following a 2022 executive order to prioritize skills over degrees

  • Pennsylvania: Pennsycvania removed four-year degree requirements from 92% of positions in state government – opening up approximately 65,000 jobs to a wider pool of candidates

LC version of cover of NGA Report