Chicago Committee Removes College Degree Requirement for City Jobs

A Chicago City Council committee approved a proposal to eliminate the college degree requirement for most city jobs, allowing candidates to substitute relevant work experience, apprenticeships, military service, or certifications instead. The ordinance, championed by Alderman Gilbert Villegas, aims to diversify the city's workforce and expand opportunities for veterans and minorities, groups disproportionately screened out by degree requirements. Approximately 45% of Chicagoans over 25, and 54% of veterans, lack college degrees, yet many possess valuable skills through alternative routes, collectively known as STARS (Skilled Through Alternative Routes). Advocacy groups highlight that degree requirements exclude a significant percentage of Black, Latino, rural, and veteran workers from employment opportunities. The measure excludes professional roles such as attorneys, doctors, and nurses, maintaining degree requirements for these positions. The proposal now awaits full City Council approval and is seen as a step toward breaking the “paper ceiling” that limits access to middle-class jobs for many Chicago residents.