Soft Skills Crucial for Greek Job Market, but Skills Gap Persists

Soft Skills Crucial for Greek Job Market, but Skills Gap Persists

kathimerini.gr

Soft Skills Crucial for Greek Job Market, but Skills Gap Persists

A Greek survey by IME GSEVEE found that soft skills and socio-emotional abilities are crucial for career success, but employers struggle to fill vacancies due to a skills gap, generational shifts, and the overqualification of some candidates.

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Greek
Greece
EconomyLabour MarketGreeceLabor MarketSkills GapWorkforce DevelopmentSoft SkillsHard Skills
Ιμε Γσεβεε (Institute Of Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises Of The General Confederation Of ProfessionalsCraftsmen And Merchants Of Greece)
What is the primary factor contributing to the difficulty employers face in filling job vacancies?
A nationwide survey by IME GSEVEE reveals that soft skills and socio-emotional abilities are crucial for career success. Combining 'horizontal' and 'vertical' skills increases job advancement chances, but overqualified candidates aren't always preferred due to salary limitations or perceived temporary employment.
How do employers' subjective expectations influence the prioritization of different skills in the hiring process?
The study highlights that skill prioritization varies by job type and employer expectations, making it difficult to find candidates with the right mix of hard and soft skills. Even in tech-focused roles, social skills remain essential for employee-customer interaction.
What are the long-term implications of the observed skills gap and generational shift in values regarding skill acquisition?
The skills gap stems from mismatches between theoretical knowledge and evolving market demands, weak links between tertiary education and businesses, and a generational shift where skill acquisition is less prioritized. Employers are investing in employee training to address this.

Cognitive Concepts

2/5

Framing Bias

The framing emphasizes the challenges faced by employers in finding suitable candidates. While it acknowledges the perspectives of job seekers, the emphasis on employer difficulties might unintentionally downplay the challenges faced by those seeking employment and the systemic issues contributing to the skills gap. The headline, if there was one (not provided), would further influence the overall framing.

2/5

Bias by Omission

The article focuses on the Greek job market and doesn't discuss international comparisons, potentially omitting global trends in skills gaps and employer needs. The impact of this omission is a limited understanding of the broader context of the skills shortage.

3/5

False Dichotomy

The article presents a somewhat simplistic view of the skills gap, focusing primarily on the dichotomy between hard and soft skills. It doesn't fully explore the complexities of the issue, such as the varying importance of different skills across sectors or the influence of economic factors beyond skills shortages. This oversimplification could lead readers to a less nuanced understanding of the problem.

Sustainable Development Goals

Quality Education Negative
Direct Relevance

The article highlights a mismatch between the skills taught in higher education and the evolving needs of the job market. This skills gap negatively impacts the ability of graduates to find suitable employment, hindering progress towards SDG 4 (Quality Education) which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.