Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is shaking things up in the Bay State with a new executive order that emphasizes skills over traditional education. Healey signed an order that directs state agencies to adopt skills-based hiring practices, stating that a change is necessary to build a more inclusive and capable workforce. According to a press release, job postings will now prioritize skills, knowledge, and abilities rather than solely focusing on academic degrees, unless the position specifically requires one.
"This Executive Order directs our administration to focus on applicants’ skills and experiences, rather than college credentials," Governor Healey told the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM). In her statement, obtained by the Mass.gov, she explained that this move is meant to open job opportunities to a broader range of applicants and diversify the state workforce. Lieutenant Governor Driscoll echoed her sentiments, highlighting the aim to reduce barriers to employment through the new order.
The directive also encompasses training for hiring managers to ensure effective implementation of the skills-based hiring mandate. Specifically, agency managers will be required to complete a course designed to promote hiring based on a candidate's set of skills, as delineated in the Mass.gov announcement. The Human Resources Division (HRD) will be developing tools to help in skills-based recruiting, including ways to identify and reduce bias in writing job descriptions and creating recruitment plans.
Sundry supporters, from industry leaders to labor organizations, have commended the governor's initiative. Brooke M. Thomson, the head honcho at AIM, praised the move, acknowledging that it aligns with their own shift towards skills-based employment practices. Applause was even heard from David J. Holway of NAGE, who called the executive order "long overdue" and Gerald Chertavian of Year Up, who branded skills-based hiring as "the future of work," in the press release.
For Massachusetts residents interested in a state government career, from health to public safety and beyond, the MassCareers website is the go-to source for job opportunities. Governor Healey's "Lead by Example" Employer Talent Initiative is now setting the stage for a shift towards recognizing the skills and experiences of job seekers in the labor market, offering a new hand to those looking to climb the employment ladder.
