Pan-Canadian Forum A Future Built on Skills

  • Français
Future Skills Center logo
Français
Polygon Created with Sketch. Home | Research
Research

The heart of the matter: Understanding hiring demand for social and emotional skills

Social and emotional skills (SES) play a vital role in navigating the complexities of the modern workplace. SES, often referred to as “soft skills” or “core skills”, are the abilities that help people understand and manage their own emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of others. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and automate routine tasks, employers are recognizing the significance of fostering SES in the workforce.

This briefing looks at the hiring demand for SES across the country for different industries and occupation levels. What area of the country has the highest demand for social and emotional skills in knowledge-based work? In what type of work are these skills most needed? Does the level of education change what skills are in demand? How and why has the demand changed? Read the data briefing to get our full analysis.

Key insights

The hiring demand for SES took a hit during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic but rebounded quickly by 2021 and showed an even stronger growth trend from 2021 to 2023.

Job vacancies requiring college diplomas or apprenticeship programs of two to three years witnessed the largest increase in their demand for SES between 2018 and 2023.

People skills such as communication and teamwork are among the most sought-after SES by employers. Desirable personal qualities, such as leadership and adaptability, are also mentioned frequently in job postings for knowledge‑based positions.

More from FSC

Two women having a conversation while working on laptops
Project

Female Workers Facing the Challenge of Digital Transformation: A Case Study in the Insurance Sector

  • October 2025
  • Laval University
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation, leading to numerous changes in social interactions at work. To address this, the project focuses on how female workers in customer service roles who typically hold secondary or college-level education and work remotely for insurance companies in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Québec are adapting to these changes.
1 Related Reports
Carpenter at workshop
State of Skills

Resilient by Design: The Skills Canadians Need Now and for the Future

  • October 2025
To build a resilient workforce that is able to respond to and adapt to changing labour markets, whether due to unpredictable disruptions or longer-term transitions, we need a range of training and upskilling pathways that equip people with the skills they need to enter, advance, transition and return to dynamic labour markets.
1 Related Reports
A group of students sitting outside on university campus.
Project

Building Capacity and Skills to Survive Shock for Current and Future Not-for-Profit Managers: A New Approach

  • October 2025
  • McMaster University
This project aimed to develop and test a new skills training model that bridged the academic and not-for-profit sectors. The experiential learning course called “Innovation for Social Impact” was developed and launched to achieve this goal.
1 Related Reports
View all Projects