Soft skills versus digital skills: New poll finds Canadian workers want to re-skill but are being pulled in 2 directions
Athabasca University study finds 3 in 4 Canadian employees want to learn new skills just to keep up with their job’s changing needs, including post-pandemic interpersonal re-skilling
New research by Athabasca University (AU) has found that more than three-quarters of Canadian employees (77%) want to re-skill just to keep up with their job’s changing needs, with digital skills being a top priority among 70% of respondents.
At the same time, however, another priority is competing for attention. Three-quarters of employees (74%) also want to improve their interpersonal, or soft skills, such as communication style, conflict resolution capabilities, relatability, and team-building.
Dr. Alex Clark, president of Athabasca University, says the findings suggest Canadian workers are feeling pressure to stay relevant in an increasingly digital world but are also feeling the effects of pandemic isolation and feel a need for an interpersonal skills “reset.”
“The data from this study is telling us that Canadians almost can’t keep up with the dizzying pace of technological growth in the workplace, yet our need to improve skills that support better human connections has never been greater,” says Clark.
“After experiencing such acute isolation due to COVID-19, it’s almost like we need some post-pandemic interpersonal re-skilling, hence our deep thirst to take more courses to improve our leadership-focused soft skills.”
“After experiencing such acute isolation due to COVID-19, it’s almost like we need some post-pandemic interpersonal re-skilling, hence our deep thirst to take more courses to improve our leadership-focused soft skills.”
– Dr. Alex Clark, Athabasca University president
The study, The Great Evolution: Mapping New Workplace Dynamics and Desires, was a cross-Canada survey administered to a representative sample of Canadians. It explored the country’s attitudes and expectations for the future of work in tomorrow’s post-pandemic era.
Canadian workers see growing value in micro-credentials
Some 63% of Canadian workers say they want to increase their value at work through courses that don’t demand too much of their time. Specifically, 58% have taken micro-credential courses before.
These short, flexible courses develop knowledge, skills, and competencies in a focused area of learning. In fact, almost half (48%) of Canadian employees say they have become more ambitious in their career aspirations since the pandemic.
“Canadians are no longer waiting for their employer to guide them. They want to increase their value in the marketplace—not just in their current job,” says Clark. “It’s like they’re channelling their own inner entrepreneur, and they want to grow on their own terms.”
“63% of Canadian workers want to increase their value at work through courses that don’t demand too much time”
– Source: The Great Evolution: Mapping New Workplace Dynamics and Desires
Canadian employees conflicted in their drive to compete, while protecting work-life balance
Seventy-two per cent say they have a desire to deepen their work expertise to advance their careers. Despite these ambitions, 72% also say since the pandemic, they have become much more protective of their work-life balance. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of workers acknowledge having experienced some prior workplace exhaustion, saying they are now guarding the pace of their work to make sure they don’t burn out like they did before.
Despite these precautions, Canadian workers are still deeply feeling the effects of the current labour shortage: 70 per cent of employees report that being over-extended and under-staffed is one of the most critical workplace challenges today. Some 59% of workers also say they have become busier than they ever were before.
“70% of employees report that being over-extended and under-staffed is one of the most critical workplace challenges today”
– Source: The Great Evolution: Mapping New Workplace Dynamics and Desires
Clark notes that the findings highlight a need to find balance between having aspirational learning and growth goals, and finding the time to realize those goals, all while safeguarding precious work-life balance.
“Athabasca University is known as Canada’s Open University because anyone can study with us—and from anywhere,” says Clark. “We give our students the flexibility to learn on their own terms, whether that’s pursuing traditional academic degrees, or for reskilling and up-skilling with micro-credentials.”
“We give our students the flexibility to learn on their own terms, whether that’s pursuing traditional academic degrees, or for reskilling and up-skilling with micro-credentials.”
– Dr. Alex Clark
Interestingly, while Canadian workers strive to evolve, they don’t necessarily feel like their employers are keeping pace. Some 62% of Canadian employees say that companies today are not advanced enough in their thinking.
“It appears companies have an opportunity to catch up to Canadian workers’ innovation-driven mindsets,” adds Clark.
