Governor Hochul Expands Opportunities for State Jobs by Allowing Work Experience as Alternative to College Degrees

Strategic Insights -

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has taken a significant step to boost employment opportunities by updating qualifications for hundreds of state jobs, allowing work experience to be considered as an alternative to college degrees. This move aims to open up more employment opportunities to a broader range of New Yorkers, particularly those who may not have had access to higher education. The change will impact close to 20,000 positions in 800 titles, impacting over 15,000 employees across state government agencies. By allowing equivalent experience to substitute for education, New York State is paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive workforce, reflecting a growing trend among public and private sector employers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Department of Civil Service has updated qualifications for hundreds of state jobs to allow for consideration of equivalent experience as an alternative for college degrees.
  • This change will impact close to 20,000 positions in 800 titles, affecting over 15,000 employees across state government agencies.
  • Over 600 of the impacted titles are promotional titles open to current state employees, while over 150 are entry-level titles open to the general public.
  • By allowing experience as an alternative to degree requirements, New York is expanding opportunities for many jobseekers without diluting the quality of the candidate pool.
  • Employers nationwide are resetting degree requirements for a wide range of roles, including entry-level, professional, and supervisory/managerial positions.
  • The federal government and some states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, have allowed experience as an alternative to degree requirements for thousands of jobs.
  • The change reflects a growing trend among public and private sector employers to recognize the value of work and life experience.
  • State Senator Robert Jackson stated that "experience is a curriculum no institution can confer and no exam can grade" and that this reform breaks down artificial barriers to public service, raising equity.

Statistics:

  • 800 state titles will be impacted by the change, with close to 20,000 positions available.
  • The change will affect over 15,000 employees across state government agencies.
  • 600 impacted titles are promotional titles open to current state employees.
  • 150 impacted titles are entry-level titles open to the general public.
  • The NY HELPS program, launched in 2024, temporarily waived civil service exam requirements for many job vacancies, resulting in more than 34,000 appointments in state and local governments.
  • The "You're Hired" initiative, launched by Governor Hochul in February 2025, aims to recruit talented displaced federal public sector workers into State service.
  • The Department of Civil Service ran a successful multi-media campaign promoting career opportunities in New York State public service, reaching 93% of New Yorkers aged 18 and older.

Sources:

  • Governor Kathy Hochul's press release, "Governor Hochul Creates More Opportunities to Access State Jobs, Allowing Work Experience as an Alternative for College Degrees"
  • State Senator Robert Jackson's statement
  • Assemblymember Harry Bronson's statement
  • Assemblymember Al Stirpe's statement
  • Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato's statement
  • Governor Hochul's previous initiatives and programs, including the "You're Hired" initiative and the NY HELPS program