Key Findings: Understanding the Demand Of Social and Emotional Skills

The Heart of the Matter:
Understanding Hiring Demand for Social and Emotional Skills

Courtesy of the Conference Board Of Canada

Key findings • The hiring demand for social and emotional skills (SES) took
a hit during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic but
rebounded quickly by 2021 and showed an even stronger
growth trend from 2021 to 2023.

• People skills such as communication and teamwork are
  among the most sought-after SES by employers. Desirable
  personal qualities, such as leadership and adaptability,
  are also mentioned frequently in job postings for
  knowledge
  -based positions.
• Ontario has the largest demand for SES in knowledge
  workers, while Atlantic provinces saw the fastest increase
  in demand for over the last five years.
• Information and financial services are among the sectors that
  seek SES the most, followed by education and healthcare.
• Knowledge-based jobs that require post-secondary education
  have a higher demand for SES compared with those that
  require just a high school diploma.
• Job vacancies requiring college diplomas or apprenticeship
  programs of two to three years witnessed the largest increase
  in their demand for SES between 2018 and 2023.