Does education still provide opportunity? It matters, but not the way it did in past decades.

The general formula that most people follow is based on the idea that a thorough education provides good credentials, which in turn lands you a job.

But with the rise of AI, degree inflation and an unforgiving job market, education is slowly being devalued in a system that prioritizes efficiency over enrichment.

A bachelor’s degree is a necessity for most people who work in corporate industries. Students work under the assumption that a degree opens doors, provides an education, and allows you to pursue your interests. But this assumption is slowly becoming outdated.

Layoffs have hit their highest level in 14 years, according to Fortune.com. Many people believe that they’ve plateaued in their careers and are heading back to school, hoping to sharpen their skills and pursue a higher education to land better jobs.

Companies asking their employees to have advanced degrees and credentials, also known as degree inflation, can be related to many factors. But the underlying message is that most workplaces are asking for more and more from their employees.

It seems like a solution, but it is resulting in the bar for employment constantly rising. More school also means more tuition, which increases debt for many individuals.

Degree inflation closes jobs to 62% of Americans who don’t have four-year degrees, according to The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity. As companies are increasing their

requirements, people are questioning whether their degree is useful. Why bother working so hard when a certain job will always require you to have more knowledge, or be educated up to a PhD or masters?

Workplaces are also starting to ramp up their use of AI.

According to an October 2025 article by CNBC, 50% of Salesforce’s workload is done by AI. Companies like JP Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs are employing fewer people to let AI work more efficiently, and estimates show that around 7% of workers in major companies could lose their jobs to AI.

This is only the beginning of a period of time that will focus on a workforce that maximizes efficiency through AI and highly skilled individuals.

There still is value in education, but there is no security attached to it. The market is highly competitive, and a college education doesn’t provide students with the same power it did even five years ago.

It’s time for our generation to consider other options instead of following the same path that may have worked in past years.