{"id":7870,"date":"2022-05-18T12:40:03","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T12:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/620d652c31202507bb7adc82"},"modified":"2022-05-18T12:40:03","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T12:40:03","slug":"the-rise-of-soft-skills-in-asia-pacific","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/squarehr.com\/index.php\/2022\/05\/18\/the-rise-of-soft-skills-in-asia-pacific\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of Soft Skills in Asia-Pacific"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Human Resources leaders in the APAC region are promoting the importance of soft skills, also known as behavioural skills, more than ever. The pandemic demonstrated that employees at every level need agility, critical thinking, complex problem solving, creativity, and communication skills. As the crisis wears on, leaders with empathy are taking centerstage and changing the prevailing image of a strong executive. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Data shows that soft skills are gaining importance in the workforce. The number of jobs in soft-skill intensive occupations is expected to grow at 2.5 times the rate of jobs in other occupations, according to <\/span>Deloitte Access Economics<\/span><\/a>. In addition, China is forecast to grow the soft skills training market at 57% CAGR (compound annual growth rate), according to <\/span>Yahoo<\/span><\/a>. By 2030, two-thirds of Australian jobs will be focused on soft skills, according to <\/span>Deloitte Access Economics<\/span><\/a>.  <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

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WATCH<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>HR and Future of Work APAC<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A New Mindset about Skills Hiring <\/span> <\/span><\/h2>\n

A trend toward hiring those with soft skills is expected by those concerned with the future of work. <\/span>McKinsey Global Institute<\/span><\/a> estimated that as many as 375 million workers, or 14% of the global workforce, would have to switch occupations or acquire new skills by 2030 because of automation or artificial intelligence (AI). As machines take over technical work, people need to take on the roles that are best suited to humans. Therefore, emotional intelligence becomes paramount. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

This dramatic shift is important for HR leaders to understand. First, they must consider soft skills when making hiring decisions. Second, they should provide the proper learning and development programs to train people on both hard and soft skills. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

“Society will now be on the lookout for graduates with effective critical thinking skills far more than before and will value them more highly,” says Matthew Allen, adjunct professor in the Institute for Social Change at the University of Tasmania, in the whitepaper, “<\/span>Australian student voice on the soft skills needed for the future<\/span><\/a>.”<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

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WATCH<\/span><\/strong>: <\/span>HR Tech APAC<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

India Today<\/span><\/a> recently focused on how the latest iteration of work is transformational. Therefore, it requires employees who are: <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n