Soft skills in the preparation of the economic-administrative professional: implications for the labor market

Abstract

The constant changes in work environments pose a challenge for universities, which must educate students capable of meetings the demands of the evolving job market. This research focused on determining the perception of graduates from economic and administrative careers regarding the level of soft skills acquired during their academic training and their relevance for employability. A quantitative methodology was employed for the study, using a non-experimental cross-sectional design involving graduates from a public university in northwest Mexico. Data were collected through a virtual instrument using a Likert scale. The results indicate that participants report an adequate level of soft skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, time management, teamwork, social interaction, adaptability to change and leadership, among others. However, there a lack of skills in decision making and effective communication. This type of analysis provides a valuable approach to identify which soft skills institutions should reinforce in students, aiming to enhance their employability and facilitate their job insertion by meeting the real demand of companies.