For decades, a four-year college degree was widely seen as the standard path to getting most midlevel jobs in the United States. It was the expected entry point for getting a job as a marketing specialist, project manager, IT support analyst, among other roles. But this expectation is shifting. Many fields ' including cybersecurity, health care and advanced manufacturing ' are facing significant shortages in skilled workers. The gap between available skilled jobs and workers is likely to push employers to rethink what they require from job candidates over the next decade. A major demographic shift will also play a role. Between 2024 and 2032, an estimated 18.4 million experienced workers with education beyond high school are expected to retire, according to September 2025 findings by Georgetown University's center on education and the workforce. Only 13.8 million younger workers with similar education levels are expected to enter the workforce during the same period, these findings...
learn more
