The removal of the college degree requirement for 30,000 state government jobs has been announced by Newsom.

Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, declared that he intends to increase the number of state jobs that do not require a college degree, following the lead of states such as Minnesota, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, which have already abolished degree requirements for many public positions.

On Monday, Newsom presented his Career Education framework, which involves removing the college degree requirement for 30,000 jobs in the state.

The Democratic governor plans to increase the number of students by 30,000 in the coming years to help Californians achieve their goals.

"California is committed to providing all residents with the chance to develop practical abilities and pursue a rewarding career, regardless of whether they have a college degree," Newsom stated. "The state is taking steps to ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to obtain a well-paying, sustainable job, in order to create a future economy that benefits all families."

The government has announced plans to create "Career Passports" for citizens, which will serve as a digital record of their skills and abilities for job applications.

Military veterans will receive new benefits under the plan, including the opportunity to earn college credit for their military experience.

Elon Musk, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, has endorsed reducing the emphasis on needing a college degree to secure a career. Musk recently stated that he believes "the value of a college education is somewhat overweighted."

"Many individuals spend four years accumulating debt without acquiring valuable skills, while those who work with their hands are highly respected. Musk believes that electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and other tradespeople are more important than incremental political science majors. He suggests that a four-year college degree is not necessary for success."

The Public Policy Institute of California released a report that found only 36% of students graduate in four years at California State University, while 62% graduate within six years, just months after Newsom's framework was released.

In recent years, there has been broad agreement among politicians to remove college degree requirements for certain state jobs.

In 2022, Maryland, led by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, became the first state in the country to remove degree requirements for many state jobs. This move paved the way for over a dozen other states to follow suit with similar orders.

In 2023, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued an executive order that 92% of state government jobs would no longer require a college degree, which was praised by Republican state lawmakers as a "step in the right direction."

The 2024 GOP platform framework supports the creation of affordable alternatives to a traditional four-year college degree.