BATON ROUGE – Louisiana is kicking down the door and tearing down the paper ceiling in the labor department. On January 1, Louisiana enacted HB 566, a landmark law designed to address workforce shortages and expand job opportunities across the state.

This legislation eliminates the requirement for a bachelor’s degree and reduces experience qualifications for many state jobs, creating new opportunities for approximately 1.2 million working-age Louisianans who have a high school diploma but not a four-year degree.

The law is part of a broader national movement to dismantle the so-called “paper ceiling”—an invisible barrier preventing workers without college degrees from accessing higher-wage, skill-based jobs. Governor Jeff Landry signed HB 566 into law in June, with critical support from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, which sponsored and championed the bill.

A response to workforce challenges

Louisiana’s tight labor market and workforce shortages prompted the introduction of HB 566. In 2022, the unemployment rate for individuals with only a high school diploma or equivalent stood at 5.3%, nearly double the 2.6% rate for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. By opening state jobs to up to 87% of the state’s adult population, the law is expected to significantly expand the applicant pool, according to BRAC.

“We’re going to be economically competitive only if we remove every barrier for people to get a job,” said Kenny Nguyen, a Baton Rouge entrepreneur and advocate for the legislation. “As soon as you put a degree requirement on there, you’re screening out folks who might have the skills and experience to do the job.”

Nguyen, owner of the creative agency ThreeSixtyEight, likened the number of Louisiana workers without college degrees to “10 Tiger Stadiums full of people missing opportunity.” He emphasized that the “paper ceiling” has limited career advancement for skilled workers simply because they lack a degree.

Broader impacts and advocacy

The “Tear the Paper Ceiling” campaign, a national advocacy initiative, estimates that 70 million Americans—half the U.S. workforce—are skilled through alternative routes, or STARS, such as technical training, military service, or on-the-job experience. In Louisiana, 1.2 million people fall into this category. HB 566 is seen as a key step toward unlocking their potential.

According to the campaign, “Workers with experience, skills, and diverse perspectives are being held back by a silent barrier—the paper ceiling.” The initiative offers resources to help STARS advance their careers and advocates for broader hiring reforms.

Nguyen urged private industry to follow the state’s example: “We’re desperate for great talent, and we must be open to unconventional pathways.”

Modernizing Civil Service hiring practices

Louisiana’s Civil Service Department played a critical role in implementing the new law. Civil Service Director Bryan Decoteau explained that the department had been reviewing hiring practices to align with workforce needs, inspired by similar reforms in other states.

Over six months, the department reviewed qualifications for 1,900 state jobs, identifying roles where experience could replace degree requirements. The changes aim to expand the applicant pool and ensure fair candidate assessments.

“We’ve been on a mission to break down employment barriers,” Decoteau said. “Before this bill, we already allowed substitutions for degrees in some cases, like six years of work experience. Now, the law ensures that degree requirements are only in place when absolutely necessary.”

Nicole Tucker, Chief Operating Officer for State Civil Service, highlighted the practical benefits: “Now, people with alternative pathways—whether through experience or skills—may qualify for positions they couldn’t before.”

Despite these changes, degrees remain essential for roles requiring specialized knowledge, such as engineering or medicine. The department collaborated with HR professionals and agencies to balance workforce needs with job performance standards.

A model for the nation

HB 566 builds on a 2022 law prohibiting agencies from requiring four-year degrees or more than three years of experience for state jobs unless specifically justified. Louisiana is now participating in a national cohort to measure the impact of these initiatives, aiming to serve as a model for other states.

“This is about tapping into the wealth of talent we already have in our state,” said Decoteau.

By broadening pathways to state employment, Louisiana is creating a more inclusive and competitive workforce, addressing labor shortages, and providing greater economic security for its residents.

“This is about creating opportunities for people who have the skills but not the paper,” Nguyen added. “Louisiana is showing what’s possible when we tear down the paper ceiling.”

For more information or to apply for state jobs, visit jobs.la.gov.

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