Memes

A lack of a degree isn't proof of anything, good or bad (for most jobs).

But a degree is a positive indicator.

The reality is that when hiring an employee I don't care how privileged they are. I care about whether they're going to be a good fit for the position.

There are other things people can use to demonstrate their ability to be a good employee. If someone worked for a company for multiple years and was promoted during that time it's a good indicator.

If someone is 23 and has worked for 10 different companies, I'm gonna guess they're flaky.

However, if someone worked for the same company more than once that's a good sign, because after leaving the company wanted them back.

But, all else being equal, having a degree is better than not for a skilled position, and will usually demand more money.

Not everyone has the capacity to make it through college.

It's definitely not a perfect system and you're absolutely right that it significantly favors people with strong support and safety nets, especially those of a financial nature.

That being said it's a very easy shorthand for a company to take and is reliable enough to keep using it, just like how financial institutions in the US use SSNs as private identifiers because it's easier and cheaper than running and supporting their own systems/assessments and mostly works well enough

College favours the rich, who can afford it and I don't think people with higher education are better at planning their future.

I'll rephrase it to show flaw: Schools favours the rich, who can afford it and I don't think literate people are better at planning their future.