Learn why ‘human skills matter more than ever’ in professional fields and industries.
Wayfinder, in collaboration with Roadtrip Nation, have released research for PreK-12 education leaders to help them to give students the key skills needed for the future of work.
Patrick Cook, founder and CEO of Wayfinder explains, “This white paper underscores the critical role that K-12 education plays in developing these durable skills, ensuring students are not only career-ready but also prepared to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives.” 1
Portrait of a Future-Ready Graduate shares common skills employers are looking for and how educators can integrate teaching these into their curriculum.
Key findings
The sub-heading of the report is, Why Human Skills Matter More Than Ever, as it focuses on human skills being ‘overwhelmingly favoured over technical skills’ by professionals for the future of work. 2
The research identified 56 foundational skills in particular to help students thrive in future workplaces. These skills were listed under four wider categories: cognitive, interpersonal, self-leadership and digital. They are then further broken down into sub-categories, such as critical thinking and entrepreneurship. A few of the specific skills include structured problem solving, coaching, risk taking and digital literacy.
“The World Economic Forum has estimated that nearly 70% of jobs today’s students will eventually hold do not yet exist.” 2
With this in mind, states and districts are preparing students for the unknown. This makes knowing which technical skills would be best to provide students with tricky, given these may be obsolete in the future. States and districts can and have, however, put a focus on equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in any workspace, to be able to cope with change and navigate an unpredictable future. Competencies such as critical thinking, collaboration and resilience are seen as essential in K-12 education, which are also favoured by employers. As well as this human-centred skill development, K12 education is also supporting students with skills in civic and global citizenship, alongside wellbeing and personal growth.
How can schools embed these skills?
The report identifies three key considerations schools need to make:
- Curriculum redesign – to weave in human skills throughout the curriculum
- Professional development – to give educators the strategies to teach these skills and understand their importance
- Competency-based learning shifts – providing opportunities for project-based learning (PBL), internships, community partnerships etc., so students can apply skills in real-world contexts. 2
The report also includes case studies from specific schools to further illustrate how others can do this.
Learn more by downloading the full report.
References
- NewsWire (2025) ‘New Wayfinder White Paper Bridges the Gap Between Portrait of a Graduate and Career Readiness’. Available at: https://www.newswire.com/news/new-wayfinder-white-paper-bridges-the-gap-between-portrait-of-a-22538011 (Accessed: 02 April 2025)
- Wayfinder and Roadtrip Nation (2025) ‘Portrait of a Future-Ready Graduate: Why Human Skills Matter More Than Ever’. Available at: https://pages.withwayfinder.com/portrait-of-a-future-ready-graduate-white-paper (Accessed: 02 April 205)
