A new analysis by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) has underscored the critical importance of durable skills in the state’s workforce. The study, presented to the State Board of Education, validates the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s (NCDPI) emphasis on integrating these skills into classroom learning through its Portrait of a Graduate initiative.

Key findings

1. The seven durable skills identified in the Portrait of a Graduate  — adaptability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, empathy, learner’s mindset, and personal responsibility — are essential across all occupations in North Carolina.
2. Jobs that highly value these durable skills tend to offer better pay and show higher projected employment growth.
3. While occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher tend to place more importance on durable skills, these skills are crucial for jobs across all education levels.
4. In every occupation and career cluster, these “durable skills” are ranked at least as “somewhat important” for job effectiveness.

Implications for education and workforce development

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt emphasized that these findings support the need for integrating durable skills into everyday learning across North Carolina classrooms. The research aligns with feedback from employers about workforce needs.

Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders noted that this alignment between education and workforce development systems around high-demand skills can help students, job seekers, and employers succeed.

Collaborative efforts

The study builds on ongoing collaboration between the Departments of Commerce and Public Instruction. Other initiatives include:

• The NCcareers website, providing comprehensive job and career information.
• Release of performance tasks by NCDPI for classroom use, incorporating durable skills with academic standards.
• Collaboration with the NC Chamber Foundation on a K-12 Talent Pipeline Toolkit to strengthen connections between employers and schools.

Looking forward

Superintendent Truitt reiterated the goal of preparing all North Carolina students for success after high school, whether entering the workforce, joining the military, or pursuing higher education. The integration of durable skills into curricula is seen as crucial for equipping graduates to succeed in family-sustaining jobs essential to the state’s economy.

This research and the resulting initiatives represent a significant step in aligning North Carolina’s education system with the needs of its evolving job market, potentially setting a model for other states to follow.