Skilled Credentials

Skilled Credentials are Imperative To Building a Diverse Workforce.

WHAT IS A SKILLED CREDENTIAL?

Skilled credentials are any certification, microcredential, badging, apprenticeship or other assessed learning opportunity beyond a 2- or 4-year college or university degree that formally indicates a worker has acquired specific skills or competencies.

MOST COMMON TYPES OF SKILLED CREDENTIALS U.S. WORKERS HOLD

52%

Training
Certificates

48%

Course Completion Certificates

38%

Industry or Professional Certificates

Perspectives On Skilled Credentials

95%

Of Executives & HR Professionals
say individuals with only skilled credentials perform the same or better than individuals with traditional degrees.

8 in 10

of executives
agree that recognizing skilled credentials widens the pipeline and makes it easier for diverse candidates to obtain employment.

WHY ARE SKILLED CREDENTIALS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS?

Embracing skilled credentials means opening the aperture to a wider range of qualified candidates for positions, at a moment when more and more jobseekers are choosing to develop their skills either outside of, or in addition to, traditional 2-and 4-year college degrees.

Skilled credentials are key to uncovering untapped talent, especially when it comes to those job seekers who may not have the opportunity to build skills in a traditional way, but have the competencies they need to succeed.

Wendi Safstrom
president of the SHRM Foundation

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

As you embark on your journey to integrate skilled credentials and more holistic hiring and retention practices, you may find misconceptions are holding you or your colleagues back.

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Responding to the Coronvirus Pandemic

Skilled Credentials