Soft skills or technical expertise? Research shows what gets promotions

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to impact industries, the question of what matters most in career success hard skills that can be replicated by AI or the people skills that are uniquely human, has become more relevant. New research published in Nature Human Behaviour confirmed the importance of soft skills, such as communication, adaptability, and the comfort to engage with teams, for career development, in the technology incentive environment.

The study that restores the soft skills pedestal

In this research that evaluated 70 million job transitions across 1,000 U.S. occupations between 2005 and 2019, and the study identified an interesting finding for workers who have mastered the basic skills reading comprehension, basic math and most importantly, the skill of interpersonal communication, their chance of attaining high-paying jobs was higher, and their ability to learn and develop new, more specialized skills was quicker. These workers will be noticeably less affected by disruption in the industry and because of AI and automation.

Though AI is capable of handling tasks that require accuracy, such as analysing data and programming, it will not replicate the nuance and flexibility of human interaction. As a result, while the demand for technical skills remains high, soft skills have become a vital differentiator in one's career.

The importance of soft skills

The research shows that there are foundational skills, skills that businesses recognize that we need to possess as we gain technical skills. Being able to build an effective team, think critically, use creative problem-solving, and communicate effectively, will never be replaced by a machine.

In an age where AI can automate much of those technical skills, it’s the application of those human skills, our thinking, and our ability to lead teams, that allows workers to grapple with the complexity of their organization, leads the team onward, and permits real, meaningful, engagement that fuels our innovative ideas.

The future of work: Balancing hard and soft skills

As AI and machine learning advance, one thing is true, there will always be jobs and tasks that require human beings. Organizations will continue to look for not only technical capabilities in individuals, but they will also want individuals with the social intelligence skills to lead, negotiate, and empathize. Thus, the balance of hard skills and soft skills will define long-term career success.

Can AI ever replace your soft skills?

So, what is one advantage of being human that AI cannot replicate? Maybe it is emotional intelligence, empathy, or creative problem solving? The point is the workforce will always need human skills. AI may help organizations do certain jobs, but when it comes to building relationships, managing people, and dealing with complex emotions, there is never a substitute for a human.

As we delve deeper into an AI-centric universe, the question of which skills truly matter is becoming ever more important.

The answer seems to be obvious: while we will still need to be technically proficient, the mainstay of our job advancement and success will, in fact, come from the soft skills that only humans are able to perfect.