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Rep. Krishnamoorthi calls for equitable, skill-based hiring
Krishnamoorthi's bipartisan legislation aims to eliminate discrimination against applicants who lack a four-year degree
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi /
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi recently led a panel discussion at Harper College in Illinois, with a primary focus on skilled-based hiring practices and equitable workforce initiatives. The discussion also delved into addressing and combating discrimination in hiring based on degrees.
The rise of automated Recruitment Management Systems (RMS) has led to a concern among qualified candidates. Even though they possess relevant skills through avenues like internships, apprenticeships, and work experience, they fear they may be excluded from applicant pools due to computerized screening processes.
This exclusion often occurs because the candidates lack a bachelor's degree. According to Krishnamoorthi, reliance on automated systems can unintentionally filter out skilled individuals who may be well-suited for the job but lack a traditional academic credential.
To address the issue, Krishnamoorthi's bipartisan Opportunity to Compete Act advocates for evaluating candidates based on their qualifications to perform the job effectively, irrespective of traditional educational credentials. The goal is to create more opportunities for American workers and broaden the pool of skilled individuals available to businesses.
“I want to thank all of our panelists for participating in today’s discussion on how we can strengthen workforce development and provide more opportunities for American workers with skills-based training,” the Congressman said at the event.
“My bipartisan Opportunity to Compete Act will help ensure that Americans who have developed the skills necessary to succeed in a job don’t hit a ‘paper ceiling’, namely that they are not rejected merely because they lack a piece of paper in the form of a four-year degree.”
As a Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Krishnamoorthi played a pivotal role in brokering a landmark, bipartisan agreement encompassing 150 policy recommendations. The agreement aims to reset the economic and technological competition between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
“As we work to strengthen our middle class and win our economic competition against the CCP and other adversaries, it is critical that we expand apprenticeships and skills-based education while also ensuring that the workers benefitting from them can reach their full potential so our economy can do the same,” he asserted.
Approximately two-thirds of Americans do not possess a bachelor's degree, yet many have acquired the necessary skills through alternative means. The Opportunity to Compete Act supports skills-based hiring and equitable workforce practices, aiming to make the American economy as diverse and talent-rich as possible.
A 2021 study revealed more than 90 percent of employers use Recruitment Management Systems (RMS) to automate job applicant screening, with nearly half utilizing education level as a filtering criterion. Notably, around 90 percent of employers acknowledged that qualified candidates are often excluded because their resumes don't precisely align with the criteria set by the RMS.
The consequences of relying on automated hiring systems that prioritize bachelor's degrees can lead to qualified individuals being excluded from promising job opportunities. This dynamic also contributes to the societal pressure on Americans to accumulate significant debt pursuing degrees that may not be essential for their chosen career paths.
Krishnamoorthi’s Opportunity to Compete Act aims to address this issue by mandating that employers using automated degree requirements disclose the expected years of experience needed for the position. It also allows individuals to substitute relevant years of experience as an alternative to a four-year degree.
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