In recent years, unemployment has become a global issue facing young people. Although many young people earn a college education, and even an advanced degree, they struggle to find jobs in their chosen industries.
There are many reasons for the rise of unemployment, including a lack of jobs opportunities as well as a growing population.
For instance, organisations in both government and private sectors have been initiating programmes to address this issue and run a range of programmes to support youth in developing employability skills.
For young people today, it is more important than ever that they are well-equipped to enter the workforce. Despite being educated, many lack the skills they need to get the jobs they want. Below are six skills young people need which will help them get the jobs they want.
1. Problem Solving Skills
Perhaps the most important skill young people can develop before entering the workforce is problem-solving skills.
Many education systems do not teach these skills as they have chosen to focus on rote learning. Young people need ample practice in being given open-ended, authentic experiences in solving a wide range of problems. Today’s jobs are no longer rote; workers need to be able to adapt to all sorts of problems that may come up.
Critical thinking skills are a must and one of the top assets employers are looking for in new hires.
2. Global Citizenship
Because of advanced technology, our world is now smaller than ever.
Whereas in the past, employees would only deal with people in their region, young people will now work with people all over the world. Young people need to be well-versed in global citizenship, with an appreciation and understanding of other cultures. While knowing more than one language is a great asset, just being able to communicate and bond with people from other cultures can make a young person valuable in an industry.
Young people develop global citizenship through travel and connecting with people from a variety of cultures.
3. Youth Entrepreneurship
While not all young people will go into business, all youth need a sense of entrepreneurship to succeed in today’s workforce.
This means that young people need to be motivated in their jobs. Companies want workers who have forward-thinking attitudes and who can initiate changes and ideas on their own. Young people are now expected to do more than just a list of duties.
Employers are looking for new hires who will make a difference in their company.
4. Adaptability and Cognitive Flexibility
Two highly important skills for future jobs are adaptability and cognitive flexibility.
The modern workforce is constantly changing and no one knows for sure exactly what industries will look like in the decades to come. In order for young people to be successful, they need to be able to easily adapt to changes. Many companies are always changing the way they do things, and they need workers who can adapt and roll with the changes.
Young people need to also have cognitive flexibility. This means that they need to be able to change their thinking as quickly as new problems and situations emerge. They should be able to look at a situation from many angles and formulate the best plan of action.
5. Accessing, Assessing and Analyzing Information
With the widespread availability of technology, young people have a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips.
Today, it is no longer about what a person knows, but what a person can find out. Thus, young people do not necessarily need a head full of knowledge, but they do need the skills to access any information they may need to solve a problem.
Not only do young people need to know how to access information, but they also need to be able to assess and analyze the information. They need to be able to sift through and judge information to find what is relevant to their situation. They need to be able to analyze the information to determine what it really means and how it can be used.
6. Self-Knowledge and Emotional Intelligence
One of the most important skills needed in the future workforce is self-knowledge.
Young people need to know themselves well enough to know their strengths and weaknesses. When a worker understands him or herself, he or she can make adjustments where needed and perform at his or her best. Young people who know themselves not only know how to approach and solve problems, but are also better able to work with others.
In addition to self-knowledge, young workers also need to be able to understand others through emotional intelligence. This will allow them to make connections with their co-workers, superiors and anyone who is associated with their company. Making strong connections is essential in any industry. Employers want new workers who can form these bonds in order to promote the company and work well with others.