54
The Workforce
of Tomorrow
WORDS: Lori entile
Director of Client Services at the Women’s Resource Center
According to the University of
Cambridge, one of the five key
challenges that young people face
today is the high demand for skilled
people who can think creatively, work
collaboratively, take responsibility, and
handle uncertainty and problem. When
we think about how we are educating
our children, we need to think in terms
of educating the workforce of tomorrow.
People tend to focus their attention on the
technical skills needed for the career they
desire rather than personal development
or soft skills that are essential for success.
LinkedIn’s 01 lobal Talent Trends
repor t showed that of talent
professionals and hiring managers say
that soft skills are just as necessary or
more critical than hard skills. The Florida
Chamber Foundation survey found 81
of the 0 business stakeholders that
participated were concerned with the
lack of crucial skills employability skills,
soft skills, and digital skills as a threat to
their business.
Trevor Muir, author, speaker, and
professor, feels so strongly about this
issue that he writes: “We need to change
things up, and I think that starts with
us stopping calling communication,
collaboration, critical thinking, work ethic,
and condence “soft skills.” Instead, let
us call them “essential skills.” They are
skills that are necessary to thrive in the
modern world.”
He also discusses the fact that
standardized testing and college
admissions requirements force our
schools to focus on technical skills and
content knowledge instead of on the
skills most valued by employers. This
contributes to the skills decit we face.
He argues that school needs to become
a place where we focus on the essential
skills as much, if not more than other
content.
So, what are the essential skills that
employers need How can we weave
that into what we are teaching our
children In all of my research, I see
the same skills highlighted across all
industries: problem-solving, critical
thinking, collaboration, innovation and
creativity, self-management, conflict
resolution, and communication.
Are you interested in developing
your essential skills If so, stay tuned
because later this year, the Women’s
Resource Center will be adding
programs to help!