The way that Americans work has rapidly changed within just the past decade alone. More people are trading in traditional 9 to 5 employment for jobs that let them work from home or come into the office just a few days per week. Demand for remote work and hybrid careers will only increase as folks seek work-life balance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies transitioned to having employees do their jobs from home; this gave people extra time to avoid commutes, bond with their kids, and otherwise handle their personal responsibilities. Moving forward, a lot of working folks want to keep these things going.

At the same time, growing numbers of individuals are looking for jobs online with platforms like Upwork and Indeed. In the case of Indeed, fewer and fewer listings come with education requirements.

What to know about job postings on Indeed

Years ago, it wasn't uncommon for Indeed job listings to have different education standards for applicants to meet. In 2024, this is increasingly not the case anymore.

Since just last month, 52% of listings arrive sans formal education mandates. In 2019, only 48% of Indeed jobs lacked these requirements. Moving forward, it appears that more employers will begin to shed the traditional education guidelines that were once seen as a packed deal with job opportunities.

Indeed itself has weighed in on this. According to the job board, more employers are prioritizing skills over degrees. Likewise, various labor market trends prompted greater flexibility among hirers. This means not having a degree isn't always a dealbreaker that precludes people from certain jobs.

Further details from Indeed suggests this change could be a net positive for American workers. Today, 64% do not hold a Bachelor's degree.

Similar dynamics found on other job boards

Upwork, the number one freelancing site around the world, is another platform that places skillsets above degrees.

Many clients on the site want freelancers to show samples of past work or positive testimonials from hirers they've previously worked with. There is significantly less emphasis on formal education.

Americans with and without college degrees should take note of this. Formal education or not, having the right skills can be the make or break factor that determines if you get the job.