InStride Launches Solution That Expands Talent Pools with Skills-Based Hiring

InSkilling™, launched with Medtronic, empowers companies to replace traditional degree requirements hiring

InStride, a tech-enabled services company that delivers workforce education solutions, today announced the launch of InSkilling™, a consultative service that broadens the pool of qualified talent for in-demand jobs through skills-based hiring. Providing companies with the expertise and tools needed to implement skills-based hiring, InSkilling determines how to replace traditional degree requirements for job descriptions, with necessary skills for specific entry- and mid-level roles.

InStride has created a robust framework for InSkilling through skills taxonomy mapping and extensive research. The multi-stage process includes in-depth interviews with subject matter experts, skills extraction from job descriptions, and alignment of both soft and hard skills across job families.

Since the 1980s, many job descriptions have included degree requirements, a practice that left behind skilled candidates who did not have degrees. This created equity barriers for communities disproportionately underrepresented in the traditional academic system as well as workers with credentials from international education systems. However, there’s been a reverse trend. Currently, about one in five U.S. job postings do not require a college degree, a 15% increase since 2021.

Craig Maloney, CEO of InStride, commented: “InSkilling is our response to our clients who have asked InStride to help them implement skills-based hiring to widen their talent pool and embrace inclusive hiring practices. InSkilling begins to unwind the previous trend of adding degree requirements for entry- and mid-level roles and broadens opportunities for individuals who have acquired skills through alternative routes.”

To refine InSkilling, InStride collaborated with Medtronic, a global healthcare technology company employing over 90,000 people, to replace degree requirements with appropriate skill requirements for 60 roles across 15 job families to meet Medtronic’s goals of opening access to a wider pool of talent that could be incorporated into existing corporate talent recruitment processes.

Amy Wilson, Medtronic's director of global talent acquisition programs and employment brand, said of skills-based hiring at Medtronic, “A degree is just one indicator for job readiness. If we can create more pathways to jobs at Medtronic, we can bring our mission as an employer to more people who are a great fit for Medtronic.”

Hire for skills, advance with education

After an InSkilling implementation, InStride helps companies take the next step with constructing Career Education Paths, which link skill requirements for filled roles to relevant learning options, including degree and non-degree options, available through InStride’s strategic workforce education solution. Career Education Paths provide employees with valuable skills and knowledge they need to take the next step in their career, paired with access to the debt-free and robust educational programming they need to do so.

About InStride

InStride, in partnership with top academic institutions, enables companies to provide career-aligned, debt-free education through a personalized digital platform and consultative service model. InStride empowers forward-thinking, talent-focused corporate partners such as Amazon, Labcorp, Medtronic and Magna to unlock access to life-changing education.

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