‘Soft Skills Are As Important As Technical Expertise’

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz emphasized that soft skills are as important as technical expertise when looking for a job.

“Hard skills, or technical skills, have little value if you have poor soft skills. While it is true that the talent and abilities you bring to the workplace mean everything for being offered a position, your attitude will define who you are and how your employers decide whether or not you are worthy of keeping the job,” Baldoz said.

“Soft skills, as opposed to hard skills, tend to center on the ability to work with other people. These refer to abilities in
communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking, and professionalism,” Baldoz said.

The labor secretary also said that it is just as important in helping a jobseeker land a job but in a competitive job market where there are many candidates with similar hard skills, an applicant with exemplary soft skills will stand out.

Baldoz shared that the jobseekers can acquire these employable skills through institution-based training or through programs offered by public or private institutions, schools or training centers.

She added that among the many ways the youth can improve their chances of employment is by strengthening their Labor Market Information (LMI) know-how.

The Bureau of Labor and Employment (BLE) has developed client specific labor market Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and has conducted advocacy activities to provide accurate signals on jobs and skills in demand and shortages.