• The changing nature of work is increasing the demand not only for technical skills but for social and emotional skills (SES), such as communication, leadership, cultural competence, resiliency, problem-solving, and collaboration.
• Employers often find that entry-level new hires lack these skills.
• Most tools and resources for developing SES are designed for K–12 learners. But helping adults develop and assess these skills is an important priority when it comes to responding to Canada’s skills gaps and the future of work.
• Not everyone has the same opportunities to develop SES in the same ways at the same time. We risk exacerbating existing inequities among vulnerable groups by placing greater emphasis on the development and assessment of social and emotional skills.
• Closing social and emotional skills gaps will set up learners, workers, and employers for career success. But it will require rethinking SES training and development, including considering it as part of a lifelong learning process.

Overview

Why is this research important?

How did we get here?

What are the challenges with social and emotional skills training and assessment?

The challenge for post-secondary institutions: gaps in perception

PSE–employer partnerships

Reconnecting with workers

Who gets left out?

So what needs to happen next?

Appendix A

• Methodology

Appendix B

• Bibliography