Building Tomorrow's Talent: Collaboration Can Close Emerging Skills Gap

A recent study (Building Tomorrow's Talent: Collaboration Can Close Emerging Skills Gap) revealed that four in 10 corporations and almost half of academic institutions believe that recent graduates lack certain so-called 'soft skills' needed in the workforce to be successful, including emotional intelligence, complex reasoning, and negotiation and persuasion, etc. Employers are now more focused on interpersonal skills rather than GPA, according to the study. In response, some universities are releasing extracurricular transcripts that demonstrate a student’s individual skills in addition to grades. Such activities can provide a window into soft skills that employers increasingly are demanding in the workplace, from teamwork and self-regulation to multicultural competency and perseverance (Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Aug. 3, 2018).

This study concluded that business and academia already have a strong foundation for a powerful, collaborative partnership. They have identified the skills that appear to be missing in new recruits, and they are willing to invest in their experienced people. With the framework that’s in place, these sectors can bring new thinking and innovative approaches to address the learning requirements arising from technology-driven change. But they shouldn’t wait to collaborate, because employers need to solve for skills gaps now.

Reference

Bloomberg Next (2018). Building Tomorrow's Talent: Collaboration Can Close Emerging Skills Gap. The Bureau of National Affairs. Retrived from https://www.bna.com/uploadedFiles/BNA_V2/Micro_Sites/2018/Future_of_Work/Workday%20Bloomberg%20Build-Tomorrow-Talent_FINAL.pdf

More info: Recent Graduates Lack Soft Skills, New Study Reports (August 3, 2018)
https://diverseeducation.com/article/121784/