Home | Research

Employers’ insights on social and emotional skills

This executive summary introduces insights into recruiting for social and emotional skills based on interviews with human resources professionals as well as analysis of Canadian knowledge-based job postings data. The demand for social and emotional skills (SES) in the workplace continues to rise, underscoring their increasing importance for the future of work. What are the benefits of having a workforce with strong SES? What are the top types of SES employers indicate are keys for success in their organizations? What practices can employers adopt to help recruit candidates with these necessary skills? Read the complete summary to get our full analysis.

Planning, teamwork and meeting with business people in boardroom for strategy, brainstorming and solution. Corporate, collaboration and conference with employees in office for negotiation development.

Want to learn more?

Read our issue briefing SES in the Workplace: Insights From Canadian Employers to find out more about how SES are shaping Canadian workplaces.

Check out the data briefing to see hiring demand for SES across the country.

More from FSC

woman looks at a group of people as she speaks to them

Research

Reimagining Career Services

January 2026
Blueprint ADE

RCS set out to test new models for career and employment services that respond to the needs of workers, employers, and practitioners in a rapidly changing labour market. Rather than a single intervention, RCS operates as a portfolio of innovation projects co-designed with service partners and piloted in real-world settings.

Two people at a desk having a conversation

Project

Career Development Professional Centre

January 2026
Canadian Career Development Foundation, MixtMode

The Career Development Professional Centre (CDPC), led by the Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF), is testing the effectiveness of a national body to unify Canada’s career development sector by providing foundational training, fostering professionalization, and encouraging collaboration among Career Development Professionals (CDPs).