Employers are looking for this soft skill above all others – do you have it?

Communication. Effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication is an essential soft skill for all industries and occupations.

No matter your chosen field, if you are a confident and persuasive communicator, you are better prepared to job search, advance in your career and enjoy overall professional success. By learning how to speak and write compellingly and clearly, you will have a considerable advantage over competing candidates for almost any position.

Consider these statistics:

The most in-demand soft skill in the world is “effective communication”.¹

 A recent economic forecast by Deloitte states that soft skills are increasingly in demand. As technology, globalization and demographic shifts continue to shape how businesses compete, the importance of soft skills will grow.²

The same report predicts that soft skill-intensive occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030, compared to half of all jobs in 2000. The number of jobs in soft-skill intensive occupations is expected to grow at 2.5 times the rate of jobs in other occupations.²

A Swedish HR firm did a landmark global study of more than 6.5 million job ads that were seeking at least one soft skill. Of those ads, 2.4 million asked for “effective communication” skills. That’s more than double the next most-requested soft skill, which is “leadership” (1.02 million ads).³

The Swedish global study also found Toronto to have the highest demand for effective communicators. More than half of every 10,000 job ads in Toronto ask for “effective communication” as a skill, the highest demand rate of any city in the world.⁴

Workplace communication

How we communicate in our work environments is constantly evolving. In addition to face-to-face interactions, our workplace communication now includes mastering video meetings, email, text messaging and online team platforms. Recognizing the importance and etiquette required for these communication channels is key to professional success.

What makes someone an effective communicator?

Elements of effective workplace communication include:

 Active listening
 Open-mindedness
 Clarity and conciseness
 Respect and awareness for team members
 Email and text etiquette and best practices
 Willingness to give and receive feedback

Why do all industries need effective communicators?

It’s simple. 86% of employees and executives cite the lack of effective collaboration and communication as the leading causes of workplace failures. On the other hand, teams who communicate effectively may increase their productivity by as much as 25%.⁵

How to improve your communication skills?

To thrive in today’s turbulent economy, adopt the philosophy of being a lifelong learner. Some programs and courses can help you hone your professional communication skills. A certificate will assure prospective employers you’ve mastered in-demand soft skills.

Which courses can help advance your communication skills?

Courses in communication and leadership teach the essential skills needed to advance career outcomes, such as acing that job interview to advance your career. Programs like Creative, Critical and Design Thinking provide a fresh approach to problem-solving and teach methods to be empathetic and open to different viewpoints to deliver positive outcomes.

Fundamental Career Development Tools courses will advance your job search by learning how to write professional emails and network using platforms such as LinkedIn. And, there are also programs such as Intercultural Competency that teach you how to communicate, build and manage diverse and inclusive teams in today’s global market.

The bottom line is hard skills are important. But it’s soft skills that employers will look for to set one candidate apart from another. Whatever industry or position you’re in or aspiring to, strong communication skills will support your professional advancement by helping you build trust and connection, encouraging understanding and collaboration while identifying and solving problems. Isn’t it time you improved your communication skills?

Learn more:

1, 3-4 Jobbland – The most in-demand soft skills and where they are valued

2 Deloitte – Soft skills for business success

5 Pumble 2021 Workplace Communication Statistics