Stories

Wed, 26 Aug 2026

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 Want your job application to stand out? Employers say they look for these skills

Experts have identified six key skills that will count as much as qualifications in getting and keeping a job in the coming decade.
1. Creativity: thinking differently and coming up with innovative solutions 2. Information literacy: understanding and evaluating data to make informed decisions 3. Human judgement: applying critical thinking to discern what is reliable and credible 4. Collaboration: working effectively with others, including warehouse, factory, and shipping teams 5. Communication: clearly conveying information to various stakeholders, including through written reports and presentations 6. Analytical skills: breaking down complex problems into manageable parts and evaluating data to inform decisions The article notes that these human skills are essential for young people to adapt in a time of huge change brought about by automation. Jude Hillary, the economist who led the project for NFER, emphasizes that focusing on these six essential employment skills will help young people compete for jobs at a higher skill level. Additional reporting highlights:
* The Prime Minister has signaled support for more teenagers starting technical education at 14 and a work experience scheme for 10,000 young people.
* A review of the scale of young people not working, learning or training is expected to propose solutions on how to get more young adults into secure work in its final report. Overall, the article emphasizes the need for schools, colleges, and universities to focus on giving young people what they need to be work-ready alongside academic learning.