The “paper ceiling” refers to how unnecessary degree requirements limit access to jobs for qualified workers, disproportionately affecting underrepresented groups. For HR leaders, understanding and addressing the paper ceiling is essential to improving DEI outcomes, expanding talent pools, and adopting more equitable, skills-based hiring practices.

When you advertise a vacancy, you’ll receive a wide variety of applicants. Some candidates might be underqualified; others might be overqualified. If you’re lucky, a few of them will be perfect. But every applicant has one thing in common.

It’s every hiring manager’s nightmare.