Recent research from CV-Library revealed that 57% of workers admitted that their current job is not related to their degree at all, re-opening the debate around the value of a degree, and whether education is actually more important than experience.

Going to university has become increasingly popular, meaning degrees are more common place. But the recent rise in fees means candidates are increasingly moving away from higher education, and entering the world of work sooner.

When hiring for your business it may come down to choosing between a qualified candidate, and one with industry experience, but is one more beneficial than the other?

It can be argued that both prepare candidates for their career by nurturing different skill sets. Education may offer the more technical skills, whilst experience can provide transferable business skills, gained in a working environment.

And so the debate continues – what’s more important to a business, hiring for education or experience?

One of the main benefits of a qualified candidate is that they’re likely to have a more advanced skill set, having studied for a degree. Not only this, but they will have a proven academic record, and will have learnt to think critically, analytically and creatively during their time in education.

A degree provides a strong qualification, but also analytical and soft skills

They will also have networked with a huge variety of people, possibly offering more diverse ideas and opinions. As a business you can expect them to apply their technical skills, and as a result, trust them with higher levels of responsibility.

Those who have had hands on industry experience may not have the same level of hard skills as a graduate, but they’re likely to have a better understanding of how a business runs. Having previous experience in the industry also means candidates will have built an understanding of the market and the main competitors, which is an asset for any business.

This is perhaps why 71.9% of workers surveyed who have studied toward a degree felt that it would have been more beneficial if their university had included more business and office-based skills, as this would help to bridge the gap between education and work.

Of course there will always be industries where a degree (or equivalent) is mandatory, for example, medicine. The education or experience debate becomes more fluid at this point, as highly skilled sectors like IT are also likely to require a good set of qualifications.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the study revealed that 92.9% of those currently working in the retail sector admit that they do not use their degree education in their role, as roles such as these often require skills that can be taught through on-the-job training.

Some of our most successful entrepreneurs have little education

In more flexible industries like these, degrees are less sought after, and a candidate with previous experience in a similar role will probably be more beneficial to your business.

As the job market becomes more competitive, experience and education are no longer mutually exclusive; in fact it’s becoming increasingly important to have both.

More higher education organisations are encouraging students to secure work experience alongside studying, whether that’s as part of a sandwich degree, or as work experience over the summer. Hopefully in time it will become more commonplace to have a selection of talented and qualified candidates, with real world experience to choose from.

Though the job market continues to change, the debate goes on for businesses and candidates alike. Education often brings with it a very strong set of technical skills, and new ways of approaching problems.

While experience can offer transferable skills, and a better understanding of the business landscape – both are an asset to an organisation. At this time there’s no right answer as to whether experience or education makes a candidate better for the job, it will ultimately come down to your business and the industry you’re in.