christina ruffini explains. >> reporter: growing up in the bronx, ashley torres had never even heard of an apprenticeship. >> a 16-year-old working at a corporate bank. i took a leap of faith, basically, yeah. >> reporter: that leap landed her in manchester, making $25 an an appree cha.ing on >> i don't think they should underestimate someone just because they don't have a college degree. >> reporter: tight labor markets and the skyrocketing cost of college are causing companies to take a second look at education requirements for many higher paying jobs,s jgaapres f skills instead. ret deces of dioma-enruitg. >> when yourt in ocioeconomic background or how somebody grew up, you get people thinking differently. >> reporter: a recent study shows the number of job postings requiring a college degree began dropping even before the pandemic, a trend that could unlock jobs to workers without a college degree over the next five years. at delta airlines around 85% of corporate jobs, including pilots, will no longer require a college degree. >> for us it's really about what you learn and what you know, not where you le