Degree inflation occurs when employers raise the minimum educational qualifications for jobs, requiring degrees for roles that previously didn’t need them. For example, jobs that once required a high school diploma may now require a bachelor's degree, not because the job itself has changed, but because of the growing availability of degree holders. This trend can lead to underemployment for highly qualified candidates and can also make it harder for non-degree holders to access certain jobs, regardless of their experience or skills.

Academic degree inflation Alwielland Q. Bello refers to the devaluation of a degree's worth over time due to an increase in the number of people obtaining higher education degrees. As more people gain degrees, employers often respond by raising their job qualification requirements, sometimes requiring a higher level of degree for the same job. This leads to a situation where a higher level of education is needed to secure the same positions in the job market, hence the term "inflation".

Degree inflation is a term used to describe the phenomenon where the minimum educational qualifications required for certain jobs or positions have progressively increased over time, even though the actual job responsibilities may not have changed significantly. This often leads to employers requiring higher degrees, such as bachelor's or master's degrees, for roles that previously may have only required a high school diploma or an associate degree.

Several factors contribute to degree inflation, including:

Degree inflation is a term used to describe the phenomenon where the minimum educational qualifications required for certain jobs or positions have progressively increased over time, even though the actual job responsibilities may not have changed significantly. This often leads to employers requiring higher degrees, such as bachelor's or master's degrees, for roles that previously may have only required a high school diploma or an associate degree.

Several factors contribute to degree inflation, including:

1. **Increased Competition**: As more individuals obtain higher education degrees, employers may feel pressured to raise their requirements to differentiate among applicants.

2. **Changing Job Market**: In some industries, rapid advancements in technology and job complexity lead employers to seek candidates with more advanced education.

3. **Perception of Skills**: There is often a perception that candidates with higher degrees possess better skills or are more competent, even if this is not necessarily true for all cases.

4. **Credentialism**: This refers to an overemphasis on formal qualifications as indicators of a candidate’s ability or potential, rather than experience or skills.

Degree inflation can have various implications, including reducing job opportunities for individuals who possess relevant experience but lack the required degrees, increasing student debt levels as more individuals pursue higher education, and potentially leading to overqualified candidates for certain positions.

Then degree deflation must be when jobs become simpler. Consider when loom repair really required one to be a machinist. Then parts became uniform and the job could be handled by less skilled persons.