DURABLE SKILLS IN ACTION

EXPLORE THE DURABLE SKILLS ADVANTAGE FRAMEWORK

Unlocking human potential, which leads to economic mobility and equity, relies on a combination of knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the workforce. Like knowledge or technical abilities, fluency and mastery of durable skills across the workforce isn’t something that will just happen – we need intentional, strategic policies, and practices that strengthen the linkages between education and workforce. Current state policies around college and career readiness and work-based learning are typically a patchwork of standards and requirements rather than the product of a meaningful, coherent plan that positions schools and educators to provide students with the experiences to develop this skill set. This website provides a roadmap of opportunities for change and will serve as a catalyst for strengthening and advancing durable skills in action across the nation.

Click on your state to view the report or use the list view

Click on your state to find more or use the list view

Wheel Showing the Durable Skills Competency Wheel

WHAT ARE DURABLE SKILLS AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?

Durable skills (also known as ‘soft skills’) are skills we use to share what we know, like critical thinking, collaboration, or communication, as well as character skills like fortitude and leadership. Better integrating durable skills into education pathways will help ensure a broader, more inclusive group of learners ultimately find success in their careers and communities.

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Questions We Answer

Are schools in my state adequately preparing students with the skills needed to be successful for their futures?

How does my state compare to others in equipping students with the skills needed for success in college and career?

What are the top durable skills demanded by employers in my state?

How can my state better prepare students with the skills that will power their careers?

What are some examples of states who are aligning coursework with industry demanded skills?

Which durable skills are aligned with state standards?

The Problem

Current state policies around college and career readiness and work-based learning are a patchwork of standards and while some are sufficient, many are outdated, vague, or don’t exist at all. As we look toward the future, it is imperative for learners to better develop durable skills to prepare them for future success. Ensuring every student develops the skills they need will require policy action and we hope this website will serve as a catalyst for strengthening and advancing standards across the nation.

THE SOLUTION

How We Can Advance Durable Skills
  • Develop a unified vision of college and career readiness for all students that incorporates durable skills.
  • Identify metrics that can be used to determine student acquisition of durable skills.
  • Collect, connect, and report on how well students are progressing toward being ready for success after highschool.
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Perspectives on durable skills

“The men and women who manufacture in the United States are called upon to produce an amazing variety of products. From the supplies that make our lives easier and safer to the medicines, vaccines, and treatments that make our lives healthier, manufacturing employees create the world of today and tomorrow. It is the durable skills of these employees, the creativity and teamwork, that makes innovation possible and brings these new and vital products to life.”
Carolyn Lee
Executive Director, The Manufacturing Institute
“The debate over the future of work confirms the many challenges we face in preparing young people for an increasingly complex digital world. It is imperative we expand career pathway opportunities centered around job-ready training, industry-recognized credentials, and a continuous learning mindset focusing equally on technical and durable skills.”
Todd Thibodeaux
President & CEO, CompTIA
“Companies will continue to compete on innovation and talent like never before which makes the use, sharing, and transparency of skills data across stakeholder groups even more important to the world of work. Collective action around durable skills is one way to ensure Americans have the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow, and the economy has the skilled workforce it needs to grow.”
Cheryl Oldham
Senior Vice President of Education and Workforce, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
“Contractors are at the heart of infrastructure in every community across America. The technical skills of today’s craft professionals are second to none, but it’s absolutely essential that they have the Durable Skills to be able to contribute and succeed in this dynamic workforce.”
Greg Sizemore
Vice President of HSE and Workforce Development, Associated Builders and Contractors
“We’re focused on creating a ladder of opportunity so people can build a career at Walmart, regardless of where they start. We believe our investments to improve career paths for our associates, including robust training and education offerings with technical and Durable Skills, have strengthened our workforce and contributed positively to our stores and communities.”
Sean Thurman
Director of Global Public Policy, Walmart
“Equity, and the lack thereof, is important to the creation and upkeep of our local, state, and federal economies. As business leaders, we must push for specific resources and Durable Skills such as communication, collaboration, and leadership to support disadvantaged students and bring them up to the same opportunity level as their educational peers.”
Alex Hammerstein
Senior Vice President, CBRE
“Building a very talented, diverse pipeline is a long-term proposition. We have to ensure that we are looking to find people who bring unique perspectives to our work, people from different backgrounds that can challenge our thinking and create an atmosphere of collaboration, and critical thinking like never before. If we wait, if we don’t invest now, it’s going to become harder and harder to fill that pipeline in the way that we need it to be filled.”
Casey Cortese
Senior Managing Director of Community Services, Charles Schwab Foundation
“Many foundational, human or soft skills can only be learned through human interaction and these are the most universally in-demand and timeless or durable skills. I believe we need to highlight, teach, learn to communicate and value human skills and interaction more generally.”
Jake Hirsch-Allen
North America Workforce Development & Higher Education System Lead, LinkedIn
“There are some skills you need to know day one, some skills that you need to be able to acquire over time, and some skills you need to actually build muscles in. Working as a team, conflict mediation, communication, listening, coming to work on time – those are all skills that you need for success on the job and in life. We need to be in the business of imparting these skills as aggressively and rigorously as we are teaching people how to code.”
Maurice Jones
President & CEO, OneTen Coalition
“Whether you’re a product manager, a project manager, or a software engineer, there are a set of Durable Skills that you should have within your competencies to be effective. So, as we think about how this carries you through to your career, you establish this wonderful baseline for who you are and how you demonstrate Durable Skills. Then you focus on the technical skills necessary for the various jobs that you’ll pursue as you move into your career.”
Jamie Candee
CEO, Edmentum
“Success in life comes from more than academic and technical skills. Our schools and communities succeed when they address the needs of the whole child. Children thrive when they develop social-emotional skills, when they build strength in communication, collaboration, and leadership, and when they exercise their curiosity, compassion, and empathy. Imagine a society where ALL children were able to fully develop such broad and durable skills.”
Kent Johnson
CEO, Highlights Magazine
“Our students need the skills to compete in this global economy to have thriving careers, and our employers, for us to remain globally competitive, have to have a skilled workforce. Durable Skills are skills that allow students to problem solve, think critically, communicate, collaborate, and have ethical reasoning – all these skills that can last a lifetime.”
Vince Bertram
President & CEO, Project Lead The Way

America Succeeds is a 501(c)(3) non-profit education advocacy organization committed to improving educational opportunities, outcomes, and equity by harnessing the influence and acumen of the business community in accelerating systems change.