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The <keyword id="19900449" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government" source="keywords">government</keyword> on Tuesday said it will launch three <keyword id="22514006" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment-linked-schemes" source="keywords">employment-linked schemes</keyword>. While presenting the Union Budget for 2024-25, <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister" source="keywords">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> said the government will provide incentives to 30 lakh youth entering the <keyword id="19916569" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-market" source="keywords">job market</keyword> by providing one month's PF (provident fund) contribution. She announced that working women hostels will be set up in the country to promote women's participation in the workforce. She added that the government will provide funds to the private sector, domain experts and others for developing climate-resilient seeds. An already existing scheme -- MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee) -- aims to provide 100 days of wage employment in a particular fiscal year to at least one member of every household whose adult members seek manual work. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024 Live Updates: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present her record seventh consecutive Budget today</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024-25: How will this budget impact you?</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/heres-a-quick-overview-of-pm-modi-3-0-governments-first-budget-to-be-presented-by-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-today/articleshow/111944393.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/heres-a-quick-overview-of-pm-modi-3-0-governments-first-budget-to-be-presented-by-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-today/articleshow/111944393.cms" target="_blank">Here's a quick overview of PM Modi 3.0 government's first budget, to be presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman today</a>

Government to launch three employment-linked schemes: FM

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ashley Bethea transitioned from the Air Force into a job as a government contractor.</li><li>Veterans can face challenges translating their military skills to civilian roles.</li></ul>Last summer, during her final month in the Air Force, Ashley Bethea cried almost every day.Bethea, 40, felt on edge about giving up part of the identity she'd held since she was 18. She was also nervous about making it in a civilian job market, where she had no experience."For 21 years, the military was who I was," Bethea told Business Insider. "I had no clue what corporate America looked like."Her predicament is one that often confronts military members attempting to shift from drills and missions to slide decks and sales targets.<div type="image" title="Ashley Bethea takes a selfie in uniform" height="878" width="1170" msid="115189951" hostid="261" sizebytes="41546"></div>Employers often face the inverse challenge: not knowing how veterans' abilities might translate to a civilian workforce, executives who work with vets told BI. These advocates for hiring veterans said that by looking a little closer at the skills undergirding veterans' experience, employers could help plug <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/homebuilder-no-one-to-replace-retiring-boomer-construction-workers-2024-5">gaps in their workforces</a>.Bosses who dig into veterans' qualifications might like what they find. A 2023 LinkedIn report examining its users' experiences said veterans were three times as likely as those who hadn't served in the military to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://socialimpact.linkedin.com/content/dam/me/linkedinforgood/en-us/veteran-report-2023/veterans-opportunity-report-2023.pdf">have a graduate degree or higher.</a>Yet at the same time, employers often overlook or discount military experience, LinkedIn found. The result: Veterans are only half as likely to rise to the level of director or VP even though they have almost double the work experience of nonveterans, the report said.The gap exists even as more employers say they're interested in prioritizing skills over pedigree. Even so, many hiring managers still scan résumés for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/employers-dropping-degree-requirements-slow-to-hire-for-skills-2024-10">four-year degrees</a> and prior experience in a role, hiring experts previously told BI.<h2 id="8192f62f-db42-4013-9640-b2e6593b5685">A résumé for the private sector</h2>Bethea, who retired from the Air Force at the end of July, turned to a nonprofit called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hireheroesusa.org/">Hire Heroes USA</a> to help her translate her experience running logistics for deploying and returning airmen into something palatable to hiring managers. A representative from Hire Heroes helped Bethea craft her first-ever résumé."I just wanted to highlight that I could work all avenues of logistics, whether it be supply, transportation, people, equipment, or whatever the case was," Bethea, a mother of three, said.A Hire Heros USA advisor also helped coach Bethea on salary negotiations.Ross Dickman, CEO of Hire Heroes USA, told BI that one of the biggest challenges for people leaving their service is explaining how what they did in the military can be helpful to civilian employers.Dickman pointed to his own experience flying Apache helicopters during the dozen years he served in the Army."No employer really needs a helicopter that puts missiles into other things," he said.In addition to the obvious differences with civilian life, Dickman said, many members of the military chose to take on additional duties during the spare time they had while serving. That work might not be reflected in vets' records and can be difficult to capture, he said."That is where it gets murky and hard for an employer," Dickman said.Dickman said Hire Heroes USA works to help vets communicate about the skills that they possess. These can range from abilities in manufacturing to prowess in so-called soft skills like conflict resolution and negotiating.From there, Dickman said, Hire Heroes USA can go to employers and point to the abilities a veteran, service member, or military spouse possesses. Hire Heroes USA recently assisted its 100,000th veteran in the search for civilian employment, Dickman said.Vets tend to excel, Dickman said, in roles involving consulting, customer service, operations management, logistics, analysis, and project management."They have a lot more skills that informed the way that they executed as an infantryman versus just knowing how to use a rifle," Dickman said.That was the case for Jesse Gartman, 41, who spent four years in the Marine Corps. In 2007, about a year after returning home from Iraq, he responded to an ad on Craigslist looking for movers in New York City. Gartman loved the work and the flexibility it offered. Plus, it was lucrative, and the camaraderie echoed what he'd found in the military.Some three years later, with his back and shoulders hurting, Gartman decided he had what it takes to run a business. So, he started Veteran Movers NYC, employing mostly former military members. Gartman later sold that business and started another moving company in Oklahoma City, which he still owns. Now, back in New York City, Gartman is also doing business development work for another moving company.Gartman said that in his case and that of many vets he's worked with, they're "just happy to be alive." He added, "We take a lot of pride in what we do in life."<h2 id="c0f85961-1af9-4d05-9b79-21b2861a91af">Helping employers help vets</h2>Trina Clayeux, CEO of Give an Hour, a nonprofit that provides mental health support to veterans and their families, told BI that employers offering affinity groups or employee resource groups for veterans can help ex-military members feel more at home in civilian roles.Give an Hour also provides training and consulting services for employers on how to best support veterans.Clayeux said that employers often see veterans in somewhat one-dimensional ways by thinking they're good at getting things done or in leadership roles."They have so many other individual skills in between that they've picked up," Clayeux said.Clayeux said that's why it's important that hiring managers and supervisors should be curious about veterans' experiences and the skills they can bring to a workplace.A hiring manager's curiosity came through for Bethea, the newly minted Air Force veteran. She recently began a job as a government contractor at the Pentagon. Bethea's new role as a mission readiness airmen analyst builds on her decades of work in the Air Force."I enjoy logistics, and I still wanted to do it in my second life," she said.

Employers seeking skilled workers often overlook military veterans

The Indian <keyword id="21219153" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment-market" source="keywords">employment market</keyword> is projected to experience a 6.33% incremental expansion over the first half of FY 2024-25, according to a report by TeamLease. The report highlighted that 56% of employers expect their workforce to grow, 21% anticipate a decline, and 23% believe their workforce size will remain unchanged. The report provided a detailed analysis of the <keyword id="21680463" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-job-market" source="keywords">Indian job market</keyword> across 23 industries and 20 cities. It highlighted workforce expansion trends, emphasizing the impact of <keyword id="20509550" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-conditions" source="keywords">economic conditions</keyword>, organizational dynamics, skill shortages, and <keyword id="20358462" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="technological-advancements" source="keywords">technological advancements</keyword> on hiring strategies. The growth in the employment market is attributed to the favourable economic conditions in the country, including a nearly 7% GDP growth forecast for 2024 by most global rating agencies, which would make India the fastest-growing G-20 nation. Strong investment demand, peaking headline inflation, and a greater emphasis on technology and skills by employers are also key factors. In terms of cities, Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad emerged as the top cities with the highest proportion of employers expanding their workforce sizes. These cities attract businesses due to their established infrastructure, large talent pools, and economic vitality. The consistent preference for these major cities underscores their significance as job concentration hubs, despite the growing trend of expansion into new locations. These urban centres play a strategic role in driving employment growth and economic development in India. The report also noted that nearly two out of five organizations are focusing on bridging skill gaps, highlighting a shift towards a more adaptable and skilled workforce in preparation for technological advancements and new skills. The report said that Generative AI (<keyword id="19949719" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GenAI" source="keywords">GenAI</keyword>) is particularly noteworthy, as it has the potential to transform key business processes, impacting workforce dynamics and reshaping talent management. In response, 35% of surveyed organizations reported significant changes in their talent acquisition strategies to integrate advanced AI technologies. On the unemployment front, the report stated out that a significant portion of the unemployed workforce, nearly 83%, consists of youth aged 15-29. Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the educational attainment of these unemployed youths. The proportion of those with at least secondary education rose from 35.2% in 2000 to 65.7% in 2022, indicating a rising educational profile among the unemployed. However, the national <keyword id="20054242" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="unemployment-rate" source="keywords">unemployment rate</keyword> has progressively decreased, falling to 3.1% in 2023 from 3.6% in 2022 and 4.2%in 2021. The unemployment rate in urban areas also decreased from 7.2% to 6.5% for persons aged 15 years and above between October-December 2022 and October-December 2023. The <keyword id="19913761" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gig-economy" source="keywords">gig economy</keyword> in India is experiencing rapid growth, with the number of gig workers projected to rise from 7.7 million in 2020 to 23.5 million by 2029-30, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 12%. The distribution of gig work across skill levels includes 47% in medium-skilled jobs, 22% in high-skilled jobs, and 31% in low-skilled jobs, highlighting the diverse opportunities within this sector. In the media &amp; entertainment industry, digital transformation and changing consumer preferences are driving 48% of employers towards <keyword id="22204807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="workforce-growth" source="keywords">workforce growth</keyword> in the first half of FY 2024-25. However, the other half of the industry faces turbulence and uncertainty.

Maximum employers expect their workforce to grow in first half FY 2024-25, says Teamlease report

Corporate <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword> reported the strongest <keyword id="6357342" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="hiring" source="Orion">hiring</keyword> sentiments globally for the next three months, with 37 per cent of employers planning to increase their staff strength as businesses are bullish about the country's economic position, a survey said on Tuesday. According to the ManpowerGroup <keyword id="6355127" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment" source="Orion">Employment</keyword> <keyword id="20206852" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="outlook" source="keywords">Outlook</keyword> Survey Q4, 2024, of nearly 3,150 employers across sectors and regions, the <keyword id="20449001" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="net-employment-outlook" source="keywords">Net Employment Outlook</keyword> in India is the strongest worldwide at 37 per cent, followed by Costa Rica (36 per cent) and the US (34 per cent) in the second and third place respectively. The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) is calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers who anticipate reductions to staffing levels from those who plan to hire. The India employment outlook for Q4 (October-December) stood at 37 per cent, up 7 per cent from Q3 2024, and unchanged when compared with the same time last year. "The hiring intention of employers signifies the positive outlook in the country's economic position that has been reinforced by exports as a result of multilateral foreign policies and large-scale infrastructure development. Coupled with this, is our demographic advantage that is expected to boost our competitiveness in the global market," said <keyword id="20933727" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sandeep-gulati" source="keywords">Sandeep Gulati</keyword>, Managing Director, <keyword id="20841782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="manpowergroup-india" source="keywords">ManpowerGroup India</keyword> and Middle East. According to the survey, employers across all sectors report net positive hiring intentions with the financial and real estate industry having the strongest outlook of 47 per cent, followed by information technology (46 per cent), industrials and materials (36 per cent) and consumer goods and services (35 per cent). The least optimistic prospects were witnessed in the communication services (28 per cent). The survey further noted that the Northern region of India continues to dominate the job demand with an outlook of 41 per cent followed by the West (39 per cent). Gulati further noted that "India is expected to focus on its high domestic consumption, economy-booster government schemes, increasing demand for outsourcing services and manufacturing boom. "With increased focus on skill development to meet market demands, India may be able to reduce unemployment and fasten the pace of economic development by creating a more capable and adaptable workforce that meets the needs of the emerging industries." Hiring managers across the Asia-Pacific countries anticipate the second strongest regional Outlook at 27 per cent, an increase of 4 per cent from the previous quarter but decreased when compared to the same time last year. India, Singapore, and China continue to report the strongest employment outlooks in the region. The most cautious employment outlooks were reported by employers in Hong Kong (8 per cent). Survey responses were collected from July 1-31, 2024, and 40,340 employers across 42 countries were asked about their fourth-quarter hiring intentions.

Indian employers most bullish globally on Oct-Dec quarter hiring: survey

Small and medium enterprises (<keyword id="20086849" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SMEs" source="keywords">SMEs</keyword>) are driving a major surge in <keyword id="21881529" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="job-applications" source="keywords">job applications</keyword> across key sectors, with more than 35 million job applications recorded in the first eight months of 2024, according to a report by jobs and professional networking platform apna.co. The growth is fueled by rising demand in sectors like BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), and hospitality. The report highlights that the surge in job applications is largely for roles such as Sales &amp; Marketing Managers, Accounting Technicians, Telecallers, Back Office Executives, and Business Development Associates. These positions are critical for the expansion of businesses in these sectors, and the growing demand reflects a strong upward trend in hiring. "SMBs and MSMEs employ more than 110 million people, making them the backbone of our economy. Their success is crucial for our nation's journey towards achieving a USD 5 trillion economy," said Nirmit Parikh, Founder &amp; CEO of apna.co. Parikh emphasised that the demand for skilled workers in these sectors is expected to continue growing, creating vast opportunities for <keyword id="20019820" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="job-seekers" source="keywords">job seekers</keyword> across India. <h2>Major growth in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities</h2>An interesting trend noted in the report is that over 55% of the total job applications for SMB roles came from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, including Jaipur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kochi, and Bhubaneswar. As businesses expand into these cities, the talent pool is evolving to meet the growing demand, fostering a symbiotic relationship between employers and job seekers. Out of the 35 million job applications received, 14 million came from women, marking a 30% year-on-year increase in female participation. Women are increasingly taking on roles across diverse fields like finance, accounts, marketing, and graphic design, reflecting their rising involvement in the workforce. As SMEs and MSMEs continue to grow, the <keyword id="19972727" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employment-opportunities" source="keywords">employment opportunities</keyword> they generate are set to further contribute to India’s economic goals, fueling progress toward the USD 5 trillion economy target. (With inputs from PTI)

Small businesses generated 35 million job applications till Aug 2024, 14 million were from women: Report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some employers are waiving degree requirements, yet it's not leading to widespread hiring.</li><li>Employers might not ask if you have a degree, but many still care, a labor market expert told BI.</li></ul>When a job posting states that the role <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-openings-bachelors-college-degree-no-education-requirements-2024-2">doesn't require a degree</a>, Ranji McMillan starts to worry.More than likely, she said, the job will be in sales or involve work that's not a good match for her experience."If someone says that they're not looking for a degree, you have to look at what they want you to do because it just seems like they're going to give you crap work," McMillan told Business Insider.McMillan is 42 and lives in the Northridge section of Los Angeles. She's been looking for work for more than a year and a half. McMillan has an associate degree but not a bachelor's. Yet, she has more than a decade of experience managing the merchandise used in photo shoots for big-name retailers.When she looks at job listings, she estimates that she runs into a formal degree requirement most of the time.McMillan is one of millions of US workers bumping up against what's sometimes called the paper ceiling. It's happening even as more employers are setting aside requirements that applicants for some jobs have bachelor's degrees. The goal is often framed around wanting to hire for skills, not pedigree, yet many bosses have been slow to take the next step: actually bringing on workers who don't hold four-year degrees.<div type="image" title="Ranji McMillan" height="989" width="1600" msid="114401257" hostid="261" sizebytes="127056"></div>David Deming, a professor of political economy at Harvard's Kennedy School, told BI that while some employers might no longer require a bachelor's degree for certain roles, those doing the hiring still might care whether an applicant has one."Firms are wanting credit for removing a requirement, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're changing their hiring at the end of the day," he said.Deming said many employers look upon a worker with a four-year degree as an investment — one that can be molded into what the firm wants.<h2 id="69b8e63e-70be-4448-99d6-752bcbe1d346">Hiring based on skills</h2>The Burning Glass Institute, a nonprofit that examines the future of work and learning, and Harvard Business School found in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hbs.edu/managing-the-future-of-work/Documents/research/Skills-Based%20Hiring.pdf">study</a> released in early 2024 that even when employers hire people without four-year degrees for roles that once required them, it doesn't occur in large numbers.Hiring for skills or experience rather than for formal education accounted for just one in 700 hires in 2023, the study found.The researchers examined more than 11,000 roles at large firms and compared hiring at least a year before and after the employer ditched a degree requirement. The study reviewed changes in roles from 2014 to 2023.Reluctance by some employers to bring on workers without four-year degrees matters because only about 36% of people 25 and older in the US had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2023, according to the Census Bureau.In part, that's because the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-millennials-skipping-college-living-paycheck-to-paycheck-2024-5">high cost of tuition</a> can be a major barrier.<h2 id="448d7f69-1fca-482e-a27e-c42712ac78c2">A boost for employers</h2>Adding workers based on their abilities rather than what's on their résumé can be a win for business. The consulting firm McKinsey &amp; Company, citing research, notes that hiring for skills is "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/taking-a-skills-based-approach-to-building-the-future-workforce">five times more predictive</a>" of how someone performs on a job than hiring based on educational attainment and more than twice as predictive than hiring based on a person's work history.Boston Consulting Group research found that those hired based on their skills tend to get promoted at about the same pace as traditional hires yet <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/rise-of-skills-based-hiring">stay with an employer</a> for 9% longer.Still, Mona Mourshed, the founding CEO of Generation, a nonprofit network focused on economic mobility, told BI that while many notable and large organizations support skills-first hiring, "the vast majority of employers are not there yet in terms of their practice."She said Generation recently completed nearly 100 interviews with large and midsize employers around the world, including in the US, asking what goes into their hiring decisions. Much of it, she said, comes down to hiring managers wanting to limit risk. Often, it's easiest to go with a résumé that looks similar to what previous hires have had, Mourshed said."Employers will only hire a different profile when they are desperate for talent," she said.Mourshed said that even for organizations that might be open to looking first at skills, cuts to HR departments in recent years have stretched some recruiting teams. That means there could be fewer people to take a second look at someone who doesn't hold the typical academic qualifications, she said.<h2 id="3055d66a-7df6-45c2-8c68-1871f46e67be">The 'easiest and laziest filter'</h2>Chris Hyams, CEO of Indeed, told BI that for many jobs, employers simply default to the degree."What people are looking for, because it's the easiest and laziest filter, is a four-year degree from a 'good school,'" he said.But that's often short-sighted, Hyams said. He pointed to the plight of his brother-in-law, whom Hyams described as "a brilliant guy" who didn't finish college. Instead, he built and ran a music studio before becoming a Salesforce administrator, Hyams said. Yet, he has had a difficult time finding work after losing his job about a year and a half ago."He's been the finalist for five different positions where they said, 'You're actually the best candidate we interviewed, but we require a four-year degree,'" Hyams said. "It's the dumbest thing."According to BCG, there are 70 million workers in America who are so-called STARs — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/rise-of-skills-based-hiring">skilled through alternative routes</a>.<h2 id="38c1ee96-779b-4954-8bf5-e31158131cde">Workers will need more training</h2>In the coming years, many workers will need more, not less, learning to do their jobs. The US Department of Education forecasts that by 2027, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-initiatives/raise-bar/raise-the-bar-postsecondary-and-career-pathways">70% of jobs</a> will require schooling or training beyond high school.Often, that might mean a four-year degree. Researchers at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce estimate that 42% of jobs in 2031 will require candidates to have at least <a target="_blank" href="https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources">a bachelor's degree</a>, while 28% of jobs will need someone to have a high school diploma or less.Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company, which produces instructional materials for kindergarten through high school students, told BI that there's often a gap between the "job-ready" skills students possess and what employers seek. She said research has shown that students who don't want to attend college are often not told about alternative paths like internships or career and technical education programs."We have a system that's primarily college-bound," Forsa said.She also said employers might need to adapt their evaluation methods to better assess what job seekers can do. Employers could, for example, look to any certifications an applicant might have earned as a way to hire for skills, not a college degree, Forsa said.The research firm Gartner reported in July that 74% of HR leaders it surveyed believe that most employers are shifting the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/5618392">focus of how they manage talent</a> to skills. Yet only about four in 10 surveyed reported that their organizations had implemented processes that would enable this to play out.Focusing on skills can also be a way to keep people within an organization, not just hire them, according to Jon Lester, the vice president of HR technology, data, and AI at IBM.He told BI that nearly a decade ago, the average IBMer spent 31 hours a year learning new skills. By 2023, that was up to 87 hours. All of this learning, Lester said, assists with retention. It also sits at the heart of how IBM compensates its employees, he said."People get salary increases mostly because of the skills they've learned," Lester said.Research supports that thinking. According to McKinsey, skills learned at work contribute 46% of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/people%20and%20organizational%20performance/our%20insights/the%20state%20of%20organizations%202023/the-state-of-organizations-2023.pdf">average person's lifetime earnings</a>.For her part, as McMillan continues to search for a job, she often breaks down in tears — sometimes several times a week.She said she's been filling out surveys and doing whatever else she can to earn a few extra dollars. Last month, a friend gave her a $50 grocery store gift card to help her get by.When McMillan looks at job listings and contemplates whether a degree is necessary, she said she thinks that even if she had a bachelor's, it would have "dust on it by now.""I definitely would have had to evolve by now if I did get that 20 years ago," she said.Do you have something to share about what you're seeing in the workplace or in your job search? Business Insider would like to hear from you. Email our workplace team from a nonwork device at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:thegrind@businessinsider.com">thegrind@businessinsider.com</a> with your story, or ask for one of our reporter's Signal numbers.

More employers say they don't care if you went to college. Most still seem to.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Despite having an <keyword id="20005305" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MBA" source="keywords">MBA</keyword>, Marcial Quinones has struggled to find stable work after 1,500 applications.</li><li>Quinones said his <keyword id="20221864" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="job-search" source="keywords">job search</keyword> may be hindered by AI, lack of recent experience, and <keyword id="23301318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="overqualification" source="keywords">overqualification</keyword>.</li></ul>Marcial Quinones, 48, used to have few problems getting <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-seekers-careers-interviews-assessments-hiring-2024-6">jobs</a> in the 1990s without a high school diploma. Now, after what he estimates is over 1,500 applications since the early 2010s, he can't land any <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-cant-get-hired-bachelors-degree-men-cant-find-jobs-2024-5">stable job</a> in his field even with an MBA. Quinones, a father of four who lives in rural eastern Pennsylvania, said he's struggled to land a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cant-get-hired-laid-off-many-job-applications-few-interviews-2024-8">long-term job</a> in tech or counseling. He has held part-time positions and built his own inventory software to sell to companies, though he rarely gets interviews, even after redoing his <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/resume-tips-google-software-engineer-skills-experience-careers-software-tech-2024-3">résumé</a> two dozen times. "I wish there was an easier way, but traditional ways of looking for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-grad-gave-up-six-figure-jpmorgan-finance-job-satisfaction-2024-8">employment</a> have been overshadowed by <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="artificial-intelligence" source="keywords">artificial intelligence</keyword> and lack of human interaction," Quinones said, noting his applications are likely thrown out due to his recent lack of work experience. Quinones is one of many Americans with traditional work credentials who <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/white-collar-jobs-remote-office-workers-cant-get-hired-2024-9">can't land a decently paying, stable job</a>. This comes at a time when getting a college degree is much <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-degree-good-job-market-skill-based-hiring-employers-2024-2">more necessary</a> to landing a well-paying job. Quinones shared his difficulties with securing work, as well as some reasons he may be falling through the cracks. <h2>A rocky but successful start</h2>Quinones said he had a difficult upbringing with an "abusive" stepfather. He lived in various youth shelters and dropped out of school in seventh grade, and he had his first child shortly after entering a transitional independent living facility at 18. "At that point in my life, I was trying to change everything and become better because I knew that I would be a father," Quinones said. "I started taking things more seriously and tried to figure out what to do with my life." He became interested in computers and found side jobs helping the Salvation Army and other businesses fix their technology. By 18, he applied for technical jobs, doing contract work in the 1990s when companies were rolling out computers at the office. Without a high school diploma, he <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-open-to-work-banner-badge-job-pros-cons-2024-9">got a job</a> as head technician for a computer company in Arizona, then landed a role for Intel in 1999. He worked there as an IT manager for a year before getting laid off. Feeling behind his peers because he did not have a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/student-loans/is-college-worth-it">college degree</a>, he enrolled at a community college in 2002, where he got his associate degree in computer programming. While there, he also worked part-time for the school's IT department. He moved with his wife and children to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-move-arizona-conservative-3-months-politics-returned-2024-4">Arizona</a> to be closer to his wife's family. Given that a four-year degree was increasingly becoming a prerequisite for many positions, he received a bachelor's degree in computer programming. Still, he said the job market in Arizona was "extremely difficult." He wanted to progress his career, so he enrolled in an MBA program in technology management. He secured a job in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-jersey-affordable-housing-lottery-how-single-mom-won-apartment-2024-8">New Jersey</a> as chief technology officer for an import and export company. However, two years into his job in 2010, he faced a difficult situation in his family that cost him his job, which he said was "extremely difficult to recover from." <h2>Can't find a job</h2>Since then, he said he's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-looking-job-cant-get-hired-college-degress-entry-level-2024-7">struggled to find anything</a> relevant to his skill set. He couldn't land anything beyond a first-round interview for IT roles. He recalled making Facebook posts in the early 2010s searching for work, only to be met with negative comments. "I've walked into local businesses to start talking about working, and I'm told that I would not be happy working there because it is not part of my high-skilled profession," Quinones said. "This is even after not including my education not to become overqualified. However, when they reviewed my work history, it was clear I am." Quinones said he struggled with alcoholism, from which he recovered eight years ago. He began bodybuilding as his therapy, and he took part-time positions just to stay afloat. He created an inventory management software program, hoping to expand it to many clients. He secured some contracts for his software with businesses like a restaurant in Puerto Rico and a Christmas company, and he worked on inventory with small startups to help them grow. He was offered full employment at a company, given it would use his software, though the company wouldn't compensate him for his software outside his salary. Additionally, he <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/framing-prices-cost-expensive-posters-art-photos-business-money-2024-2">printed images</a> on stickers, shirts, and bottles for side income and drove for Uber, though he recalled often working 14 hours and only making $70 a day after expenses. He volunteered at a middle school implementing his software for improving students' math performances, selling some licensing agreements to parents. He said his wife works remotely as a sales supervisor for a company in Arizona, which has kept his family of six afloat. Over the last decade, he's found ways to cut costs for the family, such as doing car repairs or plumbing fixes without calling in experts. In 2015, desperate for job security, he enrolled in a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/masters-degree-rely-parents-financial-support-nyc-2024-7">master's program</a> in family and marriage counseling as a backup plan, though he ran out of financial aid with four classes left and dropped out. A few years later, when he considered returning, he was told only half of his classes counted due to a curriculum change. He received advice from career counselors to "finish my master's degree in counseling, which is not easy because of the cost," Quinones said, noting he had to pause any further education while recovering from surgery. He added hiring managers "would not give me a chance even though I had three years of education." He's still in touch with career coaches from his previous universities, and they've offered workshops, résumé and cover letter reviews, and job recommendations to help him stand out. He began catering every application specifically for each role, sending personalized emails to hiring managers, but he only got two emails back from recruiters saying they would keep him in mind for positions. <h2>Why landing a job is so difficult</h2>In total, he said he's applied for about 1,500 jobs <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/laid-off-6-times-cant-find-job-50s-retirement-worry-2024-7">unsuccessfully</a>, getting five to 10 rejections daily this year, screenshots shared with BI show. He's redone his résumé over 25 times, spending $300 for a professionally created one that yielded zero interviews — which he got partially refunded. He's asked his friends in IT and project management to review his applications. He said he's in a middle ground: He's overqualified for many entry-level positions but underqualified for jobs in related industries. He acknowledged hiring expectations have skyrocketed over the past few years. He even tried removing some educational background on his applications to seem less qualified to no avail. He believes many of his rejections are for positions that companies legally have to post but give to internal candidates or recommendations. "I used to get interviews for jobs where I beat out 600 people," Quinones said. "Now, it's hard to get a job when you don't have a foot in the door to interview." He also suspects his race as a Latino American may have hindered his job search. Once, a company told him it wasn't accepting new applications, though they gave one to his wife, who is white. He also used a shortened version of his middle name, Tony, on an application instead of Marcial, which increased his interview rate. He added that because technology changes rapidly, he may be behind on what many jobs expect applicants to have, particularly with AI. Given his location about 30 miles from any cities, he's focused on finding a remote position, though these have been dwindling and getting more competitive. "If you haven't been employed in a while, I can't magically snap my fingers and make it happen," Quinones said, noting employers may be skeptical of gaps in his work history. Are you struggling to find a job? Reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:nsheidlower@businessinsider.com">nsheidlower@businessinsider.com</a>. Correction: September 24, 2024 — An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Quinones turned down job offers before and during his MBA.

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