Research points to ‘success skills’ young people will need to thrive in the world of work
February 5, 2025
February 5, 2025
Success on the job, both in positions that exist now and ones yet to be created in a changing economic and technological environment, will demand a set of skills that may not only be academic, but also are heavy on personal qualities and well-developed cognitive abilities.
In its report, “The Skills Employers Demand,” the Southern Regional Education Board draws a distinction between “hard skills” and what it refers to as “success skills.” Hard skills, SREB says, are often academic or technical, specific to the job, and measurable in a way such that a candidate’s ability to do the job can be gauged objectively. They’re typically gained through education, training, or on-the-job experience.
A solid set of hard skills, while very reassuring to employers, doesn’t necessarily guarantee workplace success.
For that, employers are on the lookout for interpersonal skills and personal attributes that lead to harmonious and effective professional environments. Unlike hard skills, these strengths are often useful in a wide variety of jobs and industries and are critical to positive working relationships and teamwork. The increase in the use of artificial intelligence and automation make these kinds of skills even more important, notes SREB researchers, who turned their attention, in this report, to success skills.
They reviewed the research on workplace skills over the last decade, narrowing their focus to “influential or innovative” studies that appeared in academic papers and done by industry experts. These studies included surveys of leaders in the business world and current jobholders, along with analyses of job postings. Here are what their report identified as the most sought-after success skills:
The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonpartisan, nonprofit interstate compact headquartered in Atlanta. It works with educators and policymakers in member states, including Virginia, to improve public education.
Teacher shortages are a serious issue across the country. Here in Virginia, there are currently over 3,648 unfilled teaching positions. (FY23)
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