(NewsNation) — Social media content creators and gig workers have proved there’s money to be made outside of corporate America without a college degree.
With lucrative and previously unconventional jobs arising over the past few years, fewer people are opting for higher education, and the job market has responded.
The share of job postings requiring at least a bachelor’s degree fell below 18% in October from roughly 20% before the pandemic, according to Indeed’s 2025 U.S. Jobs and Hiring Trends Report released Tuesday.
“This may seem like a modest decline on the surface, but in reality, it represents tens of thousands more jobs potentially open today compared to a few years ago for the more than 60% of Americans without a college degree,” the report said.
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The labor market cooled this year as employers reduced hiring but retained existing staff. Indeed predicts employers will need to pick up the hiring pace to stabilize as hiring has already declined to its lowest in decades.
Yet employers are dealing with a “dwindling” labor supply due to an aging population, lower immigration and a change in employee career goals.
“A growing focus on reducing degree and experience requirements, and boosting skills-based hiring practices, may provide another path to address labor supply challenges,” the report said.
More job postings already are omitting desired years of experience.
Other highlights from the outlook include:
Remote work opportunities are declining but remain above pre-pandemic levels
Generative AI job postings are rare but growing
Wage growth is slowing
“For job seekers and employers, 2025 is shaping up to look a lot like the second half of 2024: Neither too hot nor too cold, but somewhere in a lukewarm middle.”
