Dive Brief:
- Employers want workers to improve in flexibility/adaptability, leadership and strong work ethics among other soft skills, according to a survey from CompTIA which surveyed 1,500 business and tech executives globally.
- Seven in 10 U.S. employers say their firm offers mandatory workforce training in soft or hard skills, a slightly higher percentage than global employers, 63% of whom say training is required.
- Half of U.S.-based employers say the struggle between business needs and employees' skill sets has deepened in the last two years. But 40% of employers say there's an outsized perception of the skills gap driven by unrealistic expectations between workers' skills and experience.
Dive Insight:
Managers know the company's growth strategy depends on the ability to hire and retain. An ideal workforce delivers value through a mix of soft and hard skills.
The innovation talent crunch has led firms to turn to outside help. Among U.S. companies, 88% say they occasionally outsource tech needs in a typical year. The top category where managers need support is data, analytics and artificial intelligence.
Because soft skills indicate a worker's potential for growth, they're sought-after by most executives — 57% of senior leaders say they value soft skills more than hard skills, according to a LinkedIn study. When evaluating candidates, the top three traits they look for are creativity, persuasion and collaboration.
The clip at which execs will need to fill roles is poised to increase over time, a trend driven by the evolution in technology, the steady aging out of skilled technologists and an expansion of tech adoption across industries.
