Tear the Paper Ceiling
It's the invisible barrier that comes at every turn for workers without a bachelor’s degree. From degree screens, to biased algorithms, stereotypes, and exclusive professional networks, it’s time to tear the paper ceiling and see the world beyond it.
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A workforce of STARs.
More than 70 million workers in the U.S. don’t have a college degree - that’s half the workforce. These workers, known as STARs for Skilled Through Alternative Routes, have developed valuable skills through community college, certificate programs, military service, or, most commonly, on-the-job experience. They include 61% of Black workers, 55% of Hispanic workers, 61% of veterans, and 66% of rural workers.
STARs and companies that are desperate for skilled talent find themselves on opposite sides of the paper ceiling – separated by degree screens, algorithms, stereotypes, and even professional networks. The result has been a severe decline in STARs’ upward mobility, just as companies struggle to build the resilient and diverse talent pipelines necessary to succeed in today’s dynamic economy.
Now more than 60 corporate, nonprofit, workforce, and philanthropic partners have united to launch Tear the Paper Ceiling - a campaign calling on companies to remove degree screens, reject stereotypes, and change their hiring practices to include more STARs.
The invisible barrier, made visible
Unveiled at CES 2023, the Tear the Paper Ceiling art installation is a stunning physical manifestation of the paper ceiling. Fashioned from some 30,000 pieces of paper, including real resumes of STARs, it brings to life the barriers millions of STARs face, despite having the skills for higher-wage work.
Stepping inside reveals the vast, textured ceiling of resumes with names and skills partially obscured to convey how companies often fail to recognize the skills STARs have developed through work experience and other alternative routes. At first it may feel hopeless, but a tear in the paper ceiling with a warm glow shining through captures the resilience of STARs and the growing number of employer champions who are tearing the paper ceiling from above and below.
It’s a glimpse of hope of what’s possible when we start to tear the paper ceiling, so every STAR can shine.
Tear
the Paper Ceiling
Workers with experience, skills, and diverse perspectives – held back by a silent limitation.
It’s time to tear the paper ceiling and see the world beyond it.
I pledge to shatter stereotypes and misconceptions and to see people for all of their experiences, skills, and diverse perspectives.
I pledge to recognize the untapped potential of the 70+ million American workers who are STARs – Skilled Through Alternative Routes – so they can flourish.
I pledge to tear the paper ceiling, to see the world beyond it, and to let STARs shine.
Sign the pledge to tear the paper ceiling
Let’s send a clear message that it’s time to tear the
paper ceiling.
Thanks for signing the pledge.
You’ve taken the first step in tearing the paper ceiling. Stay tuned for important updates, information and stories related to the campaign.
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