Yeah they are more common, having one or two vs not having one at all is another string or two in your bow so to speak... and gives you many more options for your career. In some cases you’d be hard pushed to pursue some careers without them or would be initially.
Technically it’s not a regulated profession and literally anyone can in theory start a start up or hire who they want but in various fields you’d be the exception not the rule without a degree. Don’t get me wrong I’ve known decent product managers, project managers etc.. without degrees.
@Smiffy-UK might be worth taking a quick look at degree apprentiships - you can combine working and getting a (vocational) degree over 4 years, I think you’d take a pay cut down to 20-something-k initially but would be on 30-something by the end of the course. You’d also have no tuition fees to pay/no student debt and several years work experience + likely offer of continuing work with the sponsoring company by the time you finish.
