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ERIC ED602408: Teaching Soft Skills in Workforce Programs: Findings from WorkAdvance Providers

Skills have long been associated with productivity and economic well-being. A large body of evidence shows the value of academic and technical skills in the workplace. And in recent years, soft skills--skills that make for an effective employee, such as time management and communication--have also become increasingly valued in the workplace. Employers often include these skills in job postings, and many employers report that they value soft skills as much or even more than hard skills in job applicants. WorkAdvance is a sector-focused workforce development model that calls for providing education and employment-related skills to help participants enter and advance in the labor market. The model was implemented by four providers, and the programs were evaluated using a randomized controlled trial design. The programs offered participants training in technical skills, as part of occupational skills training, and soft skills, as part of career readiness services. The evaluation's findings showed positive economic effects in some sites through a three-year follow-up period. This report first gives an overview of what soft skills are and why they are important in today's workforce. Then

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