Yesterday, on the blog, we talked about “Marshmallows, Grit & The Future Workforce” and used the well-known “marshmallow experiment” to show that even at four-years-old, cognitive skills are not enough. Want to see the “marshmallow experiment” in action? Watch the video below:
As Dr. James Heckman, Nobel Laureate in Economics explains, “Soft skills matter. They can be shaped, and are strongly predictive. Along with cognitive skills, they determine success in school, in the labor force, and in life itself.”
Everyone agrees that “three Rs” (reading, writing, and arithmetic) are fundamental to an employee’s ability to do their job, but a study completed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills reveals that the top five “most important” skills employers are looking for now and in the future are:
- Teamwork & collaboration
- Professionalism & work ethic
- Creativity & innovation
- Oral & written communication
- Critical thinking & problem solving[i]
The same study revealed that currently, at the high school level , well over 50% of new employees are deficiently prepared in the most important skills.
Right now, we are not doing enough, fast enough, to prepare our children to succeed in the workplace. We must ensure that our students are well-prepared for the workforce demands of the 21st century and equipped with the basic knowledge and applied skills necessary to be competitive in the global economy of the 21st century. So, what can you do? Click here to join the E3 movement.