A recent survey of employers revealed that the most important skills they need from college graduates are problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication. These skills are essential for success in today’s competitive job market.
Gettysburg College delivers its signature undergraduate experience to every student through the Gettysburg Approach, seeking to build within every student a breadth and depth of knowledge and a set of enduring skills to prepare them to thrive in a competitive, complex world.
Within the Gettysburg Approach, students deepen their knowledge and practice and reinforce the enduring skills of adaptability, communication, creativity, intercultural fluency, leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork through the Guided Pathways and Personal Advising Teams. Students hone these enduring skills through the experiences they select in an intentional way as they connect the activities they pursue with the skills they hope to strengthen.
The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) conducted the survey, which is the eighth of its kind since 2006. The report found that 64% of employers consider oral communication to be a very important skill for new hires, yet only 34% agreed that recent college graduates have a high level of proficiency in this area.
The skills shortage gap between employers and college graduates reflects the need for colleges and universities to focus on developing and supporting students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. This can be achieved through various measures, such as targeted internships, fellowships, and co-curricular opportunities.
By investing in skills development, colleges and universities can help their graduates gain the skills they need to succeed in their future careers.