Eradicating barriers to state employment is on Washington state's agenda

Washington state should be acknowledging the many different routes to growing one’s work qualifications, including on-the-job training and advancement, apprenticeships, internships, vocational training and life experiences. A college education is not always the way to acquire skills that are pertinent to a state job. As the Harvard Business School put it, “Jobs do not require four-year degrees. Employers do.”

Thankfully, Gov. Jay Inslee is on board with the idea that a college-degree requirement on a job posting can limit qualified applicants. He is among a growing number of governors, both Re...