Skills overtake degrees as key hiring metric in global job market

As automation and artificial intelligence reshape industries,companies are prioritizing operational skills over academic credentials. This shift,already visible in global markets,is beginning to influence hiring practices in Africa and Morocco.

A 2025 global survey by ETS of over 1,000 HR leaders found that 90% now recruit beyond traditional university graduates,focusing instead on candidates who can deliver immediate value. Nearly 80% expect increasing difficulty in finding skilled workers,while 81% of employees believe skill certifications will rival degrees by 2035.

Michelle Froah,Global Marketing and Innovation Director at ETS,noted that the goal is not to replace diplomas but to complement them with “real,demonstrable skills” to ensure employability in a fast-changing market.

In 2025,85% of companies adopted skills-based hiring,up from 81% in 2024. The approach reduces hiring time by 37%,boosts retention by 25%,and increases team adaptability by 42%. LinkedIn reports that skills-based recruitment significantly widens talent pools—particularly in emerging fields like AI and green jobs—while improving diversity and inclusion.

In Morocco,however,the transition faces cultural and systemic barriers. The national unemployment rate for 15–24-year-olds stood at 33% in 2024,exceeding 45% in some urban areas. Meanwhile,over 60% of firms report difficulties finding qualified candidates,not due to a lack of graduates,but because of insufficient job-ready skills.

Experts stress the need for Morocco to align education and training with market demands and to establish a national skills certification framework. Without such reforms,the country risks missing opportunities to turn its youthful population into a driver of economic growth.