LinkedIn is piloting a school to teach workers how to become their own bosses–no degree required

Summary: LinkedIn is piloting a school to help workers become their own bosses as hiring slows and long-term unemployment remains widespread.

LinkedIn is moving beyond its traditional role as a platform for networking and job searches with a new school designed to help workers pursue self-employment. The initiative does not require a degree, according to the company’s announcement described in the source.

A tougher market for job seekers

The launch comes as the U.S. labor market shows signs of becoming more difficult to enter. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that employers added 29,000 jobs last month, well below economists’ expectation of 90,000.

Long-term unemployment is also affecting a significant share of people without work. More than one-quarter of unemployed Americans—27.1%—have been jobless for six months or longer, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

LinkedIn expands beyond job matching

Against that backdrop, LinkedIn’s school offers an alternative path for workers who may not be finding traditional employment. Its stated purpose is to help participants become their own bosses, rather than relying solely on the conventional job search.

The available information does not specify the school’s curriculum, duration, enrollment process or the number of workers involved in the pilot. It does establish a new direction for LinkedIn as job seekers face weaker hiring conditions and extended periods without work.

What comes next

The pilot’s broader significance will depend on how LinkedIn develops the school and whether it can support workers pursuing independence from traditional employment. For now, the initiative connects the platform’s employment focus with an option for people seeking to create their own work.