A new study focusing on employers’ perspectives on micro-credentials reveals that while a strong majority of them believe it boosts a prospective hire’s value, not enough colleges and universities are capitalizing on it.

More than 70% of respondents agreed that job applicants with non-degree or alternative credentials have increased the past two years and those hires helped their organization fill an existing skill gap (74%) and improved the quality of their workforce (73%). It’s no wonder, then, that 71% affirmed that their organization is becoming more accepting of non-degree or alternative credentials in lieu of traditional four-year degrees.

A résumé containing micro-credentials is increasingly advantageous. A whopping 95% of employers said a résumé listing micro-credentials benefited the candidate because it demonstrates a willingness for skill development (76%), and most employers were not concerned about non-degree credentials having an adverse effect on the workforce.

With alternative and non-degree credentials becoming increasingly more appealing to employers, colleges and universities are in the perfect position to corner the market. However, schools may be bungling this opportunity. Less than half of employers were approached by schools to build micro-credential programs.

“Micro-credentials can play a critical role in the new economy. However, similar to how online degrees were perceived two decades ago, some are critical about the quality of non-degree programs, despite a lack of evidence to support a systematic problem,” said Jim Fong, Chief Research Officer at UPCEA.

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