In 2025, does your degree still matter, or are skills calling the shots?

The job market in 2025 is evolving faster than ever. Technology, globalization, and shifting business needs are rewriting the rulebook for careers. In this landscape, one question looms large: does a university degree still hold the power to shape your professional success, or are skills stealing the spotlight?According to LinkedIn’s latest Workforce Confidence Index, 60% of professionals in India still see a university degree as essential for a successful career.

But the picture isn’t black and white.

Degrees as a foundation, not a finish line

“Higher education isn’t just about textbooks and exams,” says Revathi Srinivasan, Director Education and Group Dean at Singhania Group of Schools, in an interview shared by LinkedIn. “It helps build resilience, adaptability, critical thinking skills, and a network. That social capital often outlasts the degree itself — it prepares students not for today’s runway, but for the unknown skies ahead.”

In other words, degrees provide more than credentials, they equip students with tools to navigate uncertainty, adapt to new challenges, and leverage relationships for long-term success.Yet, while degrees provide a foundation, they are no longer the sole differentiator. Bhavya Misra, CHRO at Godrej Capital, told LinkedIn that “Degrees are valuable, but they are no longer the final word in a market where technology and skills are evolving so quickly.

Continuous learning and the ability to adapt give professionals a real edge.” Her point is clear: formal education opens the door, but it is the ongoing development of skills and adaptability that allows a professional to walk through it and thrive.Srinivasan echoes this view, saying, “Degrees open doors, but in a skills-first world, they do not guarantee success. Employers today want graduates who can apply knowledge, adapt to situations, and communicate effectively in real-world contexts.”

For students and early-career professionals, this means that academic achievements must be complemented by practical experience and the ability to think on one’s feet.

Skills-first hiring: The new frontier

LinkedIn’s data shows that adopting a skills-first approach can expand talent pools by 11.4x in India. In some sectors, like real estate and equipment rental services, potential candidates could increase by as much as 86.4x when hiring focuses on skills rather than degrees.

These numbers don’t just reflect opportunity, they reveal untapped talent that might otherwise be overlooked in a degree-focused system.So, could removing degree requirements unlock untapped talent? Misra shared with LinkedIn that “Broadening criteria allows recruiters to consider talent from unconventional sources. Valuing skills, experiences, and potential alongside academic qualifications ensures a more inclusive organisation and prevents us from overlooking individuals who can make a strong impact.”

This means companies can discover high-potential professionals who may have nontraditional backgrounds but are equipped to deliver results and innovate.

Universities are adapting too

The skills-first shift is forcing universities to rethink education. Some institutions are already embracing experiential learning, cross-disciplinary exposure, and communication training. “Universities are hardwiring adaptability into curricula so graduates can thrive in, and even redefine, the future of work,” says Srinivasan in the same LinkedIn feature. Here, the message is clear: higher education is evolving to prepare students not just for jobs, but for dynamic, unpredictable careers.

What this means for students and professionals

The lesson is clear: in 2025, a degree alone does not guarantee success. It is the combination of formal education and continuous skill development that creates a professional capable of navigating uncertainty. For students, the takeaway is to embrace learning as a lifelong process, to seek experiences that stretch thinking, and to cultivate abilities that go beyond textbooks.As the job market evolves, the debate is no longer degree vs skills, but how degrees and skills together can unlock opportunity.