Skills-based hiring isn't enough

Today’s hiring practices have a problem: More companies than ever are assessing candidates based on their skills (81%, according to recent data) yet progress on diversity remains frustratingly slow. The hard truth is that removing degree requirements is a start, not a solution.

Skills-based hiring can reshape who gets considered, who gets a chance, and who thrives. But that promise only holds if the approach is designed with equity in mind. Without intentional design, even progressive “skills-first” approaches risk reinforcing the same old barriers, but with different language.

This isn’t just a talent strategy. It’s a leadership test. In a world of AI disruption, stalled DEI progress, and a widening skills gap, the stakes are high and getting higher.