What: Walmart announced that it will no longer require degrees for some corporate jobs, as part of a broader effort to eliminate unnecessary barriers to career advancement.

Why it is important: By adopting a "skills-first" hiring process, employers like Walmart can expand their talent pools and enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The move reflects a growing focus on skills among employers nationwide.

Job descriptions will be redefined to consider relevant degrees or the skills needed for the job, obtained through previous experience or alternative types of learning. This decision aligns with the trend of both private-sector and public-sector employers eliminating or reducing degree requirements for certain positions.

Walmart has not specified the specific skills they will be seeking, but some employers have moved away from degree requirements for jobs that require AI skills, rather than waiting for the availability of graduates in the field.

Walmart scraps degree requirements for some corporate jobs