Are skills and experience more valuable than a degree?

Published by rudy Date posted on June 11, 2015

Today, employers are looking for a variety of talents, skills and personality traits in future candidates.

This means that people who haven’t attended university, have just as much of a chance of getting employed due to the potential skills and experience that they have gained in the time that others have spent studying for a degree.

So, what is more valued – a degree or experience and skill? Are both equally desirable or does one stand out more than the other?

This infographic by Knod gives some more insight into the benefits and disadvantages of both perspectives:

Graduates:

  • 1,800 hours spent in college classes for a bachelors degree.
  • New graduates face intense competition and take longer to secure a job.
  • 8.5% unemployment rate of bachelor degree students.
  • 16.8% of graduates are underemployed.
  • Unemployment and underemployment rates have doubled since 2007!
  • Only 42% of graduates will find a job in less than 6 months.

Lack of skills:

  • 75% of employers think schools do not prepare students for the global economy.
  • 8 out of 10 adults say skills and knowledge are important to hiring managers.
  • More than 80% of employers want candidates to have work experience.

Skills and experience:

Experience heavy candidates are more favoured.
66% of employees are hired on experience over academics.
Important attributes: Internships, experience during college, college major and volunteer experience.

Skills are necessary:

  • Communication.
  • Critical thinking.
  • Problem solving.
  • Social skills.

June 2025

Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”


Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

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Monthly Observances:

  1 Jun – World Day of Parents

  5 Jun – World Environment Day 

  7 Jun – World Food Safety Day 

  8 Jun – World Oceans Day

12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour

15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 

16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances 

17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

20 Jun – World Refugee Day 

25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer 

27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day

 

 Daily Observances:

June 6: Migrant Workers Day

June 19: Filipino Youth Day 
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer

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