Many people debate which is more valuable to an employer — certifications or a four-year degree, and why.

I have the answer (lucky you).

In the past the answer was a resounding, “college”. This is because anyone who had gone through four years of arduous study in various disciplines was simply exposed to more and able to adapt easier to assorted challenges.

This isn’t the case anymore. These days, many college graduates can scarcely read and write — let alone do mathematics or logically approach problems.

The rise of the importance of certifications is simply a response to this fact. Managers need something to go by, and they have been shown time and time again that a four-year degree isn’t a guarantee of anything. So, in the absense of that benchmark they’re being forced to choose another — certifications.

It’s really that simple — as the quality of university graduates fall, employers’ dependency on and requirement for certifications will rise.