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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.

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