Closing the Soft Skills Gap in 21st Century Employment

Our According to the Manpower Group, in 2011 more than 52 percent of United States employers reported they were unable to find candidates with the necessary skills to fill available job openings.

So let me get this straight: Our national unemployment rate is hovering just above 9 percent and we can’t find the right candidates with the correct skillset to fit the jobs we have? Something’s not right!

Even worse, employers say the two skills many job candidates lack are communication and simply showing up for work on time. 

The types of skills that many employers seek beyond the general occupational or technical skills are called soft skills.

The top five soft skills many employers are looking for, according to a survey conducted by NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) in November 2011, include 1) ability to work as part of a team; 2) verbal communication; 3) the ability to make decisions and solve problems; 4) the ability to obtain and process information, and 5) the ability to plan, organize and prioritize work.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has a theory about why we are seeing candidates lacking in basic skills. I think there is a variety of reasons hy we are seeing this issue now. But no matter the reason, we need a solution. The fact is, for our workforce to be top-notch and globally competitive, we have to be willing to teach these basic skills to high school and college students if they don’t already have them. We have to hold people accountable rather than passing over problems. We need to mentor rather than complain.

I know what you’re going to say: Why should we have to teach the skills that should be taught in school, at home or at the last job?

I’ve said this before: We’re all in this together. As a region, northeast Indiana employers and schools must be willing to work together. It’s imperative to create a solid partnership that allows students to get the kind of real world job experience necessary to gain basic skills essential to becoming successful. They need strong professionals to model and create experiences that can impress upon interns the need to learn and become the kind of employee our companies require. Your success depends on them, whether now or in the future.

So what can you do to increase your chances of getting a candidate with the type of soft skills you’re looking for? Hire interns that you can teach and train. Get involved now in programs directed towards mentoring and teaching students the skills they need to be successful. Your reward? A skilled workforce helping you achieve your goals!