Celebrating One Year of Tear the Paper Ceiling

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A national movement is underway...

Here's how employers and organizations have broken down invisible barriers that make the paper ceiling to create opportunities for STARs in the past year.

19%

of job postings in the U.S. on LinkedIn no longer require a bachelor's degree
(up from 15% in 2021)

400,000

jobs now open to STARs across the 16 states that have removed degree requirements from their state government jobs since 2022

60%

of the Coalition’s corporate partners’ job postings are now open to STARs
(compared to 47% a year ago)

This important work is just getting started.

Removing degrees from great-paying jobs is only the first step in what is needed to rewire the labor market so the skills of STARs — and all workers — are truly valued in the American economy.

Year One by the Numbers

3.3 billion

The number of times the #TearThePaperCeiling campaign was viewed

1.3 million

People learned more about the paper ceiling on this website

763,000+

#TearThePaperCeiling engagements and conversations took place on social media

1,291

News outlets covered the paper ceiling

47%

of employers surveyed said that in the past 6 months, they’ve hired someone who didn’t have a bachelor's degree for a role that used to require one*

33%

of employers surveyed have changed degree requirement in at least one job description*

* Quantitative public opinion tracking studies conducted by the Ad Council and partner research company C+R Research.

Industry Recognition for the Campaign

2023 finalist

2023 nominee

See how coalition partners are tearing their own paper ceilings:

Discover how Jobcase is employing technology to make the job-seeking process more equitable for STARs.

Find out how LinkedIn’s investment in skills-first tools is helping companies keep up with an ever-evolving labor market.

Learn how global management consulting company McKinsey is working to close the opportunity gap in today's workforce.

Google has enabled more than 20,000 American workers to gain job-ready skills through the Google Career Certificates Fund. When Keith tried to get a job in tech that could use his skills, he was automatically turned down by certain employers because he didn’t have a bachelor’s degree. The Google Career Certificate in Data Analytics was pivotal. It helped Keith develop his skill set through a reputable program so he could launch his career as a full-time data analyst with a Detroit non-profit.

Through targeted initiatives like apprenticeships, STARs now make up 20% of IBM’s workforce. Cindy found her pathway to a high-quality job when IBM started the Network Admin apprenticeship program to address the shortage of skilled candidates for their open IT roles. Since Tear the Paper Ceiling began, IBM has expanded its SkillsBuild program, and is committed to training 2 million workers in artificial intelligence, focusing on underrepresented communities.

Gap, which owns Old Navy, has invested and grown its This Way Onward program, which provides one-on-one mentorship, coaching, and on-the-job skill building for young people in careers in retail. See how Benny – a STAR who used his on-the-job experience to rise from a Seasonal Sales Associate to Senior District Manager at Old Navy – and This Way ONward are supporting young STARs to advance their careers.

Walmart’s skills-based approach to hiring has created opportunities for employees like Angel. As an hourly Produce Associate for Walmart, Angel was able to show the time management, leadership, and problem solving skills he gained while serving in the military. Now he’s putting those skills to use as a Digital Coach on the management team.

Sharing the Tools to Tear the Paper Ceiling

37 campaign partners created 82 resources to help employers and workers promote STARs and implement skills-based hiring more effectively.

Thank you to all coalition partners for a successful first year.

Let's continue on our shared skills-first path for STARs!