The Critical Role of Soft Skills in Labour Market Success
By Doan Hai Ma, Smriti Sharma, Saurabh Singhal, Finn Tarp
Read the Vietnamese version
In today’s rapidly evolving labour market, the importance of soft skills cannot be overstated. These non-technical abilities, such as self-awareness, emotional management, and social interaction skills, are essential for navigating the complexities of the modern workplace.
While technical skills and formal education remain crucial, employers increasingly value soft skills as they significantly enhance an individual's adaptability and job performance.
In Vietnam, a country with a dynamic economy and a large share of youth, the emphasis on soft skills is particularly relevant for college graduates seeking to secure jobs and excel in their careers.
The Vietnamese Labour Market Landscape
Vietnam’s labour market has undergone substantial transformation over the past few decades, driven by economic reforms, globalization, and technological advancements.
The country has seen remarkable growth in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, and services. However, this rapid development has also highlighted a critical gap in the skill set of the workforce.
From the employer’s viewpoint, hiring graduates with strong soft skills translates into higher worker productivity and better workplace environments.
Companies benefit from employees who can adapt to new environments, work well in teams, and handle stress. Indeed, in other developing country contexts, soft skills have been shown to matter for wages.
However, Vietnamese college graduates, while often well-versed in technical knowledge and academic theory, frequently lack the soft skills needed to thrive in a professional environment. This gap presents a significant challenge for both job seekers and employers.
Bridging the Soft Skills Gap for College Graduates
One of the primary reasons soft skills are so crucial in Vietnam’s labour market is the nature of modern work environments. Companies today operate in highly collaborative settings where interpersonal communication and teamwork are paramount.
For Vietnamese college graduates, possessing strong soft skills can make the difference between being an average employee and an indispensable team member.
Focusing on three key soft skills—self-awareness, emotional management, and social interaction—can enhance their employability and career success.
Self-Awareness: Understanding oneself is the foundation of personal and professional growth. Self-awareness involves recognizing one’s strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations. For Vietnamese college graduates, self-awareness can guide career choices and professional development. It helps individuals identify roles that align with their skills and interests, leading to greater job satisfaction and performance. Additionally, self-aware individuals are better equipped to seek feedback and continuously improve, which is highly valued by employers.
Emotional Management Skills: The ability to manage one’s emotions is crucial in maintaining workplace harmony and productivity. Emotional management skills encompass stress management, resilience, and empathy. Vietnamese college graduates who can regulate their emotions are more likely to handle workplace challenges effectively. They can stay calm under pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and show empathy towards colleagues and clients. These qualities not only improve individual performance but also contribute to a favourable work environment.
Social Interaction Skills: Effective communication and presentation skills are essential in today’s workplace. For Vietnamese graduates, the ability to articulate ideas clearly and confidently is essential for teamwork, client interactions, and leadership roles. Good communication skills include both verbal and written abilities, as well as active listening. Presentation skills, on the other hand, involve the capability to convey information engagingly and persuasively. Mastery of these skills enables graduates to present their work, influence decisions, and build professional relationships.
Enhancing Employability Through Soft Skills Development
Given the importance of these soft skills, it is crucial for Vietnamese college graduates to actively develop them.
Vietnamese students recognize this. In a survey of students enrolled in vocational education institutions in Hanoi and Bac Ninh conducted in 2021, half the respondents were interested in taking a soft-skills course, but only 12.6% of them had taken any soft skills courses.
Paucity of time (65%) and lack of knowledge of institutions that offer these courses (52%) were the most common reasons for not attending such courses.
Soft Skills Workshops and Courses
Universities and other higher educational institutions have been slow to recognize this need for soft skills. However, such skills are malleable and can be shaped even in late adolescence and young adulthood.
In a project funded by Danida, the Development Economic Research Group at the University of Copenhagen (DERG), the Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs (ILSSA), and Novaedu partnered up to provide soft skills training to 1,600 vocational college students in Hanoi and Bac Ninh between December 2021 and May 2022.
The students attended 7 online sessions of 3 hours each, covering topics that included: goal setting, gratitude mindset and learning attitude, communication skills, presentation skills, controlling negative emotions, and positive thinking skills.
Through the sessions, students were expected to learn to identify their personal strengths and weakness, develop positive thinking and motivation, understand one’s own emotions, and improve their communication and presentation skills.
A vast majority (94.2%) of the students offered the training participated and the feedback provided by them at the end of the course was positive. Specifically, 98% of the students who attended said that they were satisfied with the knowledge gained, the teaching methods, and the expertise and dedication of the instructors.
The students also said that the course helped them gain confidence in presentations and job interviews, in setting their own goals, and moving toward future career paths. Examples of feedback from some students are listed below.
“I'm fortunate to be one of the students participating in the Soft Skills training organized by ILSSA and NovaEdu. After participating in the program, from someone uncertain and timid, hesitant in front of a crowd, I have come to understand what I truly want. I can now confidently present in front of many people without fear. I have undergone significant positive changes, resolving my personal issues. I find this program very beneficial and believe it should be organized on a long-term basis for students.”
“As a graduating student, I find NovaEdu's soft skills training program highly practical. It has provided me with skills that not every school teaches. I no longer worry when going for job interviews, knowing how to maximize my abilities to perform the job better. I appreciate the school, NovaEdu, and the teachers who have helped me acquire practical knowledge, helping me improve day by day.”
“As a senior student participating in this soft skills course, it has helped me develop more mature thoughts in life. No longer just a carefree person without a clear direction, I have learned how to set goals and seek a more suitable path for the future.”
Through follow-on studies, the project will quantitatively assess labour market gains after graduation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, soft skills are indispensable for college graduates entering Vietnam’s competitive labour market.
While technical knowledge and academic qualifications remain important, the ability to understand oneself, manage emotions, and communicate effectively sets individuals apart in the eyes of employers.
For Vietnamese graduates, investing in the development of these soft skills is not only a strategy for immediate employability but also a foundation for longer-term career success.