Find out the latest in-demand STEM skills where you won’t need a degree to get a job!
It’s true, you don’t need a degree to get a great STEM job. There are plenty of other ways to keep learning that will set you on the right path. Research by Hook Agency has revealed 2025’s most in-demand job skills that don’t require a uni degree.
The Hook Agency team examined 34 high-demand skills in 11 industries internationally. They compiled data from Glassdoor salary information, Indeed job postings and Udemy. The team scored each skill on demand, earning potential and training accessibility. Together these factors created an “in-demand skills score” out of 100 (see table below).
Many top skills are STEM-related, including trade in the finance and business industries, leadership in the manufacturing and construction industries, and a range of tech skills such as AI, data analysis and UI/UX design.
In-demand STEM skills that don’t require a uni degree
| Skills | Job postings | Salaries | STEM + X | In-demand skills score |
| Trade in finance and business | 179,000 | $270,281 | STEM + Finance & Business | 67.66 |
| Leadership in manufacturing and construction | 1,210,000 | $118,311 | STEM + Manufacturing & Construction | 64.47 |
| AI | 53,000 | $170,832 | Technology + Creativity | 53.37 |
| Data analysis | 48,000 | $110,966 | Data + Technology | 46.72 |
| UI/UX design | 2,000 | $122,357 | Technology + Design | 46.69 |
Source: Adapted from Hook Agency research
The research found major international companies like Google, IBM and Apple no longer need university degrees for many of their positions. Indeed, famous tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates managed to make it big without finishing college.
So how do you get a competitive advantage without uni? Online courses, microcredentials, bootcamps and specialised training programs are creating new paths to high-paying careers. They’re bite-sized and focused, offering practical skills without the time and cost of traditional degrees.
“We’re seeing a fundamental change in how companies hire,” says Hook Agency’s founder and business expert, Tim Brown. “Many employers now value practical work skills and real-world experience over traditional degrees. This is creating exciting opportunities for people who choose alternative education paths.”
“We have a real opportunity to make a difference,” says Tenielle Colussi, one of the authors of the Break Down the Barriers report commissioned by Microsoft and delivered by Accenture.
“By removing barriers and ensuring job opportunities are open to those who have alternate pathway experience, or offering programs that include alternative pathways, we’re not only solving for a talent gap, but creating exciting and fulfilling opportunities for amazing individuals who would have remained hidden in the workforce.”
Looking for more info on microcredentials or alternative pathways? We’ve got you covered. Time to get ready for that six-figure salary!
