Backlash Grows Over Gov. Newsom Nixing College Degree Requirements for 30,000 State Jobs

Backlash continues to grow over Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement earlier this week that college and other educational requirements for 30,000 state jobs would be nixed. Plans for another 32,000 jobs will be added to that list by the end of 2025.

For several years, Governor Newsom and other lawmakers have been pushing for a renewed focus on jobs, with less of a reliance on college education in favor of other career paths focusing on on-the-job training and skills. As required college degrees have shut out many Californians looking for state jobs, they also favored certain groups. The majority of state jobs went to either Asian or white workers, as 67% of Asians and 50% of whites in California have college degrees. This is in comparison to 30% of blacks and 19% of Latinos in California with degrees.

Wanting to “even the playing field,” Newsom signed the Freedom to Succeed executive order last year. The order specifically outlined preparing students and adults for the workforce of tomorrow and directing additional steps to reduce employment barriers for state jobs — including college degree requirements. Newsom’s announcement last year has met with significant criticism.

“A college degree is highly important for most government jobs,” explained employment consultant Beth Williams to the Globe on Wednesday. “Of course, not all jobs need college degrees. Trade schools and apprenticeships are very popular for trades and things like that right now. But going into a government job, needing to know certain programs or getting certification, a degree lets you hit the ground running. You also have all the networking, social, and real-life experience benefits too. Plus a degree makes it so much easier for someone to be trained or quickly build up experience as they are familiar with the area going in. For government jobs, a degree is essential for that.

“When Newsom tried to say that college degrees weren’t necessary for some jobs last year, a lot of people in government couldn’t believe what he said.”

During a visit to Redding this week, Newsom made good on what he outlined in his executive order last year, announcing that California has now removed college degrees or other certain educational requirements  for nearly 30,000 state jobs and has a new goal to double that number next year.

“Every Californian deserves the opportunity to build real-life skills and pursue a fulfilling career — including those that don’t require college degrees,” said Newsom, a 1989 Santa Clara University graduate, this week. “California is working to ensure that every person has what they need to get a well-paying, long-lasting job so we can build an economy for the future that supports all families. We are proud to stand with our local partners in the North State to advance the Master Plan for Career Education, working collaboratively with our Jobs First Economic Blueprint, and create pathways toward new jobs while strengthening California’s regional economies to benefit local communities.”

Newsom on degrees

The press release also added that “The California Human Resources Department (CalHR) evaluates whether a college degree or other educational requirements are truly necessary for a position. The administration is proposing further simplifying civil service jobs by consolidating about 70 job classifications, modernizing descriptions, and removing restrictive qualifications. 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 proposal for an additional roughly 32,000 positions statewide, is currently being negotiated with employee unions and will be submitted for approval in 2025.”

While Newsom’s encompassing Master Plan for Career Education, has had bipartisan support, the part of ending college degree requirements for government jobs has been widely condemned. His plan includes making it easier for Californians to receive college credit for their real-world experience — especially veterans — strengthening coordination, and creating more pathways to careers in California.

“A degree is critical in picking the right person for a vast majority of jobs,” said “Tony,” who used to work in human resources for a California state agency. “A degree proves so much, everything from sticking it out long-term to having built-in skills. Experience is important, but a degree shows more of an ability to learn, to adapt, acquiring skills. A lot of people without degrees tend to be set in their ways in situations where they need to be with the times to get things done.

“About 30 years ago, several cities cut college requirements for jobs, and we had a bunch of  non-college graduates entered. College grads had about a 95% retainment rate. Those that didn’t, only about 50% were kept on. We had people without degrees asking for things like electric typewriters or word processors instead of computers. We had people struggling to adapt. And now Newsom wants to bring that sort of uncertainty back.

“Hey, a lot of people don’t have degrees. I know plenty of people without a college diploma making more than me. But for a lot of jobs, it is needed, and I don’t think the state realizes this.”

“There has been a huge furor over this, Williams added. “It will be interesting to see just how many without degrees are hired for these jobs, and then see how many are retained. The state will probably get some great employees without college degrees, but also probably a lot more who won’t work out.”

More on Newsom’s Master Plan is expected to come out soon.