Soft skills in the workplace are becoming increasingly important as enterprises look to add additional value to their business. Soft skills have become an essential element for companies when making hiring decisions.

This is in line with the findings of the 2020 report from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report. The report underlines critical thinking and analysis, problem solving and self-management skills as top soft skills that are increasingly demanded by companies.

Similarly, the 2020 ILO’s Rapid Assessment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skills Demand in Indonesia also shows that most hiring companies listed certain soft skills as requirement in addition to technical skills. Working as part of a team, communication and analytical and logical thinking are the top soft skills required by industries.

Taking into accounts the high-demand of soft skills, the ILO in collaboration with the Indonesia Business Link (IBL) organize a series of soft skills e-training programmes to improve the employability of youth and job seekers from 13 March to 22 May. These trainings are part of the ILO’s skills development programme through its skills development (InSIGHT II) and unemployment protection (UNIQLO) projects, funded by the Government of Japan and Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. respectively.

Tauvik Muhamad, ILO’s technical officer for skills development, said that the combination of technical and soft skills are in great demand for today’s competitive labour market and businesses. “Therefore these training programmes play a significant role in ensuring Indonesian youth and job seekers are well equipped with skills needed to be able to compete and get decent employment,” said Tauvik during the opening session of the programme on 13 March.

“Soft skill has become significant not only in entrepreneurship but also in employment. Today’s companies do not only consider technical skills but also take into account applicants’ soft skills. Considering the Indonesia’s demographic bonus in the next decade, soft skills play an important role in meeting the future employment challenges and competitiveness,” stated Yayan Cahyana, Executive Director of the IBL.

The training programmes are targeted to both job seekers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic aged 18-45 years old and marginalized youth aged 17-20 years old, particularly those who are still at high-school level. The trainings are also opened for both participants from urban and rural areas.

The training programmes are grouped into three batches, targeting to reach out 100 job seekers and youth. The programmes focus on selected soft skills based on the key findings of the ILO’s rapid assessment: building integrity/honesty, working as part of a team, critical and analytical thinking, communication and preparation for a job interview and developing a CV.

“We hope to reach out to youth and job seekers from urban and rural areas, particularly from marginalized and vulnerable groups. Through these training programmes, the participants are expected be able to adapt with the fast-changing world of work and be more equipped to enter or re-enter the job market,” said Hirania Wiryasti, the ILO’s programme officer for digital skills and distance learning.