How the Industrial Revolution continues to drive employers toward hiring for soft skills | From Dorms to Desks Podcast | ep21

For millions of years, which is as long as there have been people, those people have worked together to accomplish tasks that could not be done individually, or could not be done nearly as efficiently or effectively. But a couple of hundred years ago, employment started to change. The dawn of the Industrial Revolution meant the creation of factories, and factories meant that employers suddenly needed to hire dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people a year.

No longer could employers rely on hiring family and friends. Instead, they needed to hire people they didn’t know, and that meant that employers started to assess the likely ability of potential hires to do the work. As most of that employment was in factories or on farms, employers placed great value on hard skills such as ability to lift heavy objects, operate certain kinds of machinery, or the attainment of a Bachelor’s degree.

Recent articles from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and College Recruiter reveal that employers now prioritize soft- over hard-skills, so they care more about problem-solving and teamwork skills in entry-level candidates.

Unlike previous years, GPA is significantly less important, with only 35 percent of employers in 2024 considering it a hiring factor. Instead, soft skills such as demonstrated abilities in problem-solving, teamwork, work ethic, and communication are highly valued.