Bridging the soft skills gap with 4-H

Katie Jones, UF/IFAS Suwannee Extension, 4-H Youth Development, Extension Agent I Contributor A growing number of employers are reporting that job applicants lack basic skills necessary to succeed in the workplace. These skills – things like how to write a professional email, managing timelines on projects and conflict resolution – are vital for the success of the organization as well as the employee. These skills, termed “soft skills” are not that soft at all. They are the skills that make or break the success of teams and organizations. The soft skills gap has become even more visible as we have navigated post-pandemic education and employment. One potential solution to the sof