Governor Dunleavy orders removal of 4-year degree requirement for most state jobs

On Tuesday, Governor Mike Dunleavy issued Administrative Order 343 to address the unprecedented workforce shortages in state jobs by removing the requirement of a 4-year college degree for most state jobs.

"The State of Alaska is not the immune from the nationwide labor shortage," said Governor Mike Dunleavy. "Today people can gain knowledge, skills and abilities through on-the-job experience. If we're going to address our labor shortage, we have to recognize the value that apprenticeships, on-the-job training, military training, trade schools and other experience provides applicants. If a person can do the job, we shouldn't be holding anyone back just because they don't have a degree."

Alaska, like most states in the lower 48, faces an unprecedented workforce shortage. Whether because of the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, or the “great resignation,” both left 10 million job openings but only about 5 million unemployed workers to fill them, per the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

So how did this happen? A combination of government policies that simultaneously reduced the supply of workers and stimulated demand for goods and services.

Workers fled the job market because of policy decisions, such as 18 months of bonus unemployment benefits that meant many people could make more money staying home rather than by working. Meanwhile, federal administration policies during the pandemic stimulated consumer and business demand for goods and services by flooding the economy with trillions of dollars in so-called COVID-19 relief, about half of which was money printed by the Federal Reserve.

Currently, there are not enough qualified applicants to fill all of Alaska’s state job vacancies. This Administrative Order serves as the first step in addressing the State's workforce shortages and modernizing the State's personnel system.

Included in the Governor’s order is the Director of Personnel and Labor Relations identify the job classifications that currently require applicants to possess a 4-year college degree and work with the Department of Administration to review which job classifications would appropriate to include practical experience in lieu of, or in addition to, a 4 college degree requirement.

The order also directs that, where practical, the Department of Administration propose and present amendments to the state’s personnel rules recommending the replacement of any requirements for a 4-year college degree for all state jobs in which a degree is not legally required with comparable relevant work experience, skills, or competency-based training requirements.

Finally, the job postings should include relevant experience in lieu of a college degree whenever reasonable.