Pandemic-era changes in the way we communicate and problem-solve in our workplaces demand skills such as critical thinking and good communications. As companies automate or outsource more routine, technical tasks, skills like critical thinking and empathy that computers cannot mimic are becoming more essential. While these task-oriented skills are still crucial for job success, the results this year suggest companies are increasingly courting talent with stronger, human-oriented skills.
Soft skills were already sought after prior to the pandemic, but now, because of it, leaders are realizing they are just as crucial for success as business or operational acumen. These kinds of soft skills are going to be critical for future workers. We will need to develop key soft skills as well, so that we can do things machines cannot.
The demand for manual and physical skills, and basic cognitive skills, will decrease, but demand will increase for technical, social, and emotional, as well as higher cognitive skills. Technology will keep changing the way we work, and it will demand that we continually learn new skills, or apply our existing ones to different settings. We know digital and artificial intelligence technologies are changing the work environment, and that the modern workforce will have to learn new skills and be trained to continually adapt as new professions arise.
We are less certain, however, about the particular skills that workers of tomorrow will need. In 2021, the more immediate need is for workers who have the skills to, well, learn new skills. Acquiring new skills is important for business growth as well as for employees.
Learning skills are those skills that allow one to learn something new and adjust to a new situation in the workplace. Having strong learning and adaptability skills can make you stand out from other candidates, and demonstrate to employers that you are willing to learn and adapt as needed. Learning how to code helps students develop their creativity and brings opportunities, regardless of the career path that they choose. As students anticipate future careers, coding continues to be a fundamental skill, encompassing creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving--all essential skills to take to the workplace.
At the top of this years list are creativity, collaboration, persuasion, and emotional intelligence, all skills that show off how well you work with others and bring fresh ideas to the table. Soft skills also represent many skills that cannot be duplicated by Artificial Intelligence (AI), which only increases their importance going forward.
As the job market continues to stress the importance of these skills, getting them may become less of an option. In addition to articles such as these from top publications that reinforce the relevance of soft skills to the future of work, we have noticed their growing relevance through the proliferation of new programs around organizational leadership around the country--highlighting market demands for professionals who possess these skills. Yet according to a study commissioned by CFA Institute, where I am a managing director for career training, 39% of employees said that their main frustration at the workplace is their employers do not offer effective training on soft skills.
