Today's students have unparalleled access to technology that provides instant information to develop their knowledge.

So why are graduates failing to meet employers’ expectations?

Regardless of students' postsecondary pathways, the shortage
of qualified applicants in the workforce continues to grow.

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Employer data, case studies, and white papers show:

82% say high school graduates are unprepared for postsecondary opportunities

90% prioritize problem-solving as a must-have skill

80% value teamwork—yet most graduates show gaps

69% of HR professionals reported skills gaps in 2023, up from 55% in 2021

The skills employers seek most today are durable skills.

80% of the most in-demand skills are durable—not technical—and are requested nearly 4x more than any other skill type

97% of employers value durable skills more than hard skills, citing their critical role in workplace success

75% of employers struggle to find graduates with the durable skills their companies need.

85% of career success is attributed to durable skills, outweighing technical abilities.

What are students missing? Durable skills.
These skills are non-negotiable in today’s landscape.
Schools and states must proactively embed them into students’ daily lives.

Schools Evolving to Meet the Workforce Ecosystem Needs

ALIGNING DURABLE SKILLS WITH WORKFORCE READINESS

By implementing evidence-based tools and artificial intelligence, schools can identify students' durable skills strengths and gaps, aligning them with workforce readiness.

USING DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR POSTSECONDARY

By leveraging personalized, data-driven insights, schools better prepare students for

postsecondary pathways and meet employers' needs.

SCIENCE, PRECISION, AND RELIABILITY

Schools using an evidence-centered approach, integrating strength-based assessment and credentialing of durable skills, will better prepare students for the workforce.

Schools need science-backed, evidence-based technology to assess and credential students' durable skills and Portrait of a Graduate competencies—positioning them to succeed as education and the workforce evolve with advancing technology.