I don't think this is true anymore.

I agree some do, but I am very skeptical about most. It's also changing rapidly.

To be clear I'm not disagreeing that a manufacturing engineer role would require a degree in engineering (and countless other examples). I'm pushing back on specifically "most white collar jobs require any degree regardless of what it is".

I believe that assumption is incorrect and harmful.

It's truer than ever because of applicant tracking systems that allow HR to automatically filter out people without degrees before they are even seen by the hiring manager.

In combination with oversaturation of university graduates, it's an easy box HR can tick to lower the applicant pool.

If that's true, it's painfully tragic.

Still comes off as jaded and pessimistically biased. Not representative of whole white collar, just some segment in it.

It's VERY different than my direct experience, and indirect exposure including statements I've read about hiring policies at attractive employers.

This sound pretty insane on its own. If you don't care about the content of the degree at all, what does the degree even prove?

It proves you could sit through 4 years of university and not fail out.

Since basically anyone can graduate high school nowadays, this proves you put at least some effort into your education without being forced to.

It doesn't really matter if it's low signal, just that it narrows the applicant pool.

Mostly it proves you have money

University is not difficult. Money is

University has never been more not difficult. Cheating is rampant and the whole institution is organized arpund prioritizing students graduating over protecting the integrity of credentials.