Texas requires postsecondary degrees, certificates, and the like for state jobs, but does not credit prior work experience as a legitimate substitute. To attract an adequate number of qualified state employees, this omission needs to be rectified.
Key points:
- Specifically, Texas law should be updated to end the practice of excluding prior work experience as a valid basis for eligibility for state employment in all fields except for those with employees in regulated occupations or professions such as law, accounting, and engineering, which require degrees.
- Texas law should also be updated to reflect the fact that the rapidly changing employment culture in the United States—as well as across the world—will reward the nimble employees who can best leverage their prior work experience and adapt fastest to market changes.
- Texas state employment practices need to ensure that applicants with work-based skills are not placed at the back of the line behind those with degrees.
- Other states are moving in this direction, and the Biden administration has announced its intention to do likewise.