A Sample of Resources related to the Essential Workforce Skills Critical to Employers & the Economy
*These skills are often called "Soft Skills," "Employability Skills," "Non-Cognitive Skills," "21st Century Skills," "Portable Skills," "Enterprise Skills," "Social-Emotional Skills," "Transferable Skills," and many other names.
Compiled by CareerPrepped
Research from the Burning Glass Institute, Business-Higher Education Forum, and Wiley found that foundational skills endure over the course of a career and that training learners in foundational skills reaps lifelong dividends.
This research project commissioned by Career Education Colleges & Universities (CECU) identifies common entry-level knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) gaps, of which "soft skills" are identified.
92% of executives say soft skills are equal to or more important than technical skills.
Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation and Stanford Research Center has concluded that 85% of job success comes from having well-developed soft and people skills, and only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge.
After tracking 20,000 newly hired employees at 312 private, public, healthcare, and business organizations, study shows 40% of new hires fail within 18 months because of inadequate soft skills.
Report asserts that soft skills such as adaptability and complex problem-solving are more important than ever for recent college grads, mid-career professionals, and seasoned executives.
Research report states employers are united in their opinion that recent graduates lack necessary soft skills and that to bridge the gap, institutions are increasingly focusing on soft skill development with their students.
Since 1980, jobs with high social skill requirements have experienced greater relative growth throughout the wage distribution.
Task force representatives from both higher education and the corporate world, identified competencies that define "career readiness" which comprise of "soft skills."
Report shows soft skills are in high-demand yet undersupplied in the labor market.
An in-depth survey of over 400 employers across the U.S. indicated that, according to employers, many new workforce entrants lack skills essential to job success. Among the most important skills cited by employers were (1) Professionalism/Work Ethic, (2) Oral and Written Communications, (3) Teamwork/Collaboration, and (4) Critical Thinking/Problem Solving.
This 2013 study revealed that 92% of senior executives in the U.S. acknowledged the existence of a serious gap in workforce skills. Additionally, 44% of respondents in this study cited soft skills, such as communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, as the area with the biggest gap.
Following 14,000 young people over a decade, this report reveals the factors that accelerate the transition to full-time work. The number one factor was found to be building "enterprise skills" in education.
Report confirms employers demand "enterprise skills," such as problem solving, creativity, communications, teamwork, critical thinking, etc.
U.S. economy is demanding more noncognitive skills and these skills strongly improve labor-market outcomes.
Employers and college students indicate "soft skills" are most important to long-term career success. However, employers say college graduates are less prepared in important "soft skills" areas while graduates feel they are better prepared.
A study of nearly 100 countries reveals large gaps in selected indicators for many of the 16 most critical "21st-century skills." These gaps are clear signs that too many students are not getting the education they need to prosper in the 21st century and countries are not finding enough of the skilled workers they need to compete.
HR professionals say skills such as dependability and reliability, integrity, respect, and teamwork were "very" or "extremely" important when hiring for an entry-level position.
A growing number of employers across industries report that job applicants lack the basic skills needed to succeed in the workforce.
Growing concern of businesses is that entry-level candidates lack critical competencies for entry-level employment in service sector jobs.
A gap exists between how prepared students consider themselves for work in specific skill areas and how employers perceive student readiness. The widest gap was in career management skills.
Argues noncognitive skills are so critical, they should be an explicit pillar of education policy.
Cites a 2015 report from the Development Economics research group that identified five linked soft skillsets as vital for all UK workers and "worth over £88 billion in Gross Value Added to the UK economy each year."
Study of 225 companies revealed five skills employers identified as most important / hardest to find were soft skills.
Based on a Pew Research Center survey of employed U.S. adults, conducted in association with the Markle Foundation, this research reveals the belief that "people skills" are extremely important to do their job.
Compiled research asserts the top 10 skills employers need are soft skills.
Summarizes research from McKinsey & Company showing the rising demand for "soft skills" education systems are not set up to impart.
67% of HR managers said they'd hire a candidate with strong soft skills even if technical abilities were lacking, while just 9% would hire someone with strong technical credentials but weak soft skills.