According to researchers, "conflating wage levels with skill levels often underestimates and undervalues low-wage workers' skills and the potential to fill open positions employers need to be successful." (Photo: Shutterstock)
A lot can be said for on-the-job experience, innate soft skills and just plain common sense – something millions of workers without college degrees have that could prove useful in decent-paying careers, according to "Reach for the STARs: Realizing the Potential of America's Hidden Talent Pool."
The report, released by Opportunity@Work and Accenture, details the attributes of more than 71 million individuals currently in the U.S. workforce who do not have college degrees, but are "Skilled Through Alternative Routes" – or STARs – and have the skills to succeed in higher-wage jobs.
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Katie Kuehner-Hebert
Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a freelance writer based in Running Springs, Calif. She has more than three decades of journalism experience, with particular expertise in employee benefits and other human resource topics.
