homepage | Durable Skills Needed Now
February 13, 2023
Employers seek durable skills. According to a 2021 America Succeeds report, an analysis of 80 million job postings from 2020-2021 shows that 7 of the 10 most-requested skills were durable skills. Locally, 1.2 million Missouri jobs or 55% of job postings in 2019-2020 demanded at least one durable skill.
Known also as soft skills or essential skills, durable skills include critical thinking, communication, collaboration, mindfulness, and creativity. In other words, demonstrating how to use what you know.
Sought-after durable skills include character skills like fortitude, growth mindset, and leadership. Individuals can possess and develop these skills regardless of their career path, education level, and other demographic factors.
Professionals can take these skills with them from job to job and down any career path. These skills cannot be replaced by automation.
Findings show that 91 percent of management jobs, 86 percent of business operations jobs, and 81 percent of engineering jobs demand durable skills.
“Whether you’re a product manager, a project manager, or a software engineer, there are a set of durable skills that you should have within your competencies to be effective in any one of these jobs. So, as we think about how this carries you through to your career, you establish this wonderful baseline for who you are and how you demonstrate Durable Skills. Then you focus on the technical skills necessary for the various jobs that you’ll pursue as you move into your career,” said Edmentum CEO Jamie Candee in the report.
Technical skills are based on foundational knowledge or expertise in a subject. Technical skills change over time with the advent of new technologies. Automation may alter the need for specific technical skills.
“Contractors are at the heart of infrastructure in every community across America. The technical skills of today’s craft professionals are second to none, but it is absolutely essential that they have the durable skills to be able to contribute and succeed in this dynamic workforce,” said Greg Sizemore, Vice President of HSE and Workforce Development, Associated Builders and Contractors, in the report.
Durable skills remain important no matter the career path – corporate management, hospitality, legal, engineering, manufacturing, construction, or other fields. Application of durable skills can help workers of all professions to think critically, solve problems, and contribute to their company and community.
“Companies will continue to compete on innovation and talent like never before, which makes the use, sharing, and transparency of skills data across stakeholder groups even more important to the world of work. Collective action around durable skills is one way to ensure Americans have the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow, and the economy has the skilled workforce it needs to grow.” said Cheryl Oldham, Senior Vice President of Education and Workforce, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in the report.
As we know, American businesses face a supply gap for skilled workers. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly impacted the available pool of workers, but the issue also centers on the types of skills that employers seek.
According to a 2020 study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the report finds that 74 percent of hiring managers agree that there is a skills gap in the current labor market, with 48 percent saying that candidates lack the skills needed to fill open jobs.
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