Article Gold Open Access 2025

Soft skills gap: aligning higher education with job market needs in Spain

International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education
Journal · Vol. 14 · Issue 4 · pp. 2891-2901
Abstract

In the dynamic and complex context surrounding the fourth and fifth industrial revolution, dominated by volatility and uncertainty, the importance of communication training, particularly in developing soft skills, is evident. This study advocates for the inclusion of these competencies in higher education and professional training in communication, ensuring they align with the current needs of the Spanish labor market. The gap between the competencies taught and those required by employers is examined to strengthen the connection between academic training at university level and work adaptability. The research examines the gap between the skills taught and those required by employers, aiming to strengthen the connection between university education and workplace adaptability. It emphasizes the need for greater alignment between academic profiles and job demands, proposing comprehensive search and analysis methods for improvement. Additionally, the study underscores the significance of communication training in preparing students for both present and future challenges. Adaptability and continuous updating of soft skills are essential for maintaining professional competitiveness in today’s era. © 2025, Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Higher education employability soft skills Industrial revolution Professional communication

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Information and Communication Sciences Department, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Funding & Acknowledgements
Generalitat de Catalunya
The work was carried out within the framework of the AGAUR Industrial Doctorate, \u201CDevelopment of a techno-humanistic learning model through the design process\u201D (2021DI34, Generalitat de Catalunya).
Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, AGAUR
Grant: 2021DI34
The work was carried out within the framework of the AGAUR Industrial Doctorate, \u201CDevelopment of a techno-humanistic learning model through the design process\u201D (2021DI34, Generalitat de Catalunya).
Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, AGAUR
The work was carried out within the framework of the AGAUR Industrial Doctorate, \u201CDevelopment of a techno-humanistic learning model through the design process\u201D (2021DI34, Generalitat de Catalunya).
References 10 References
1 Loumpourdi, Maria, The future of employee development in the emerging fourth industrial revolution: a preferred liberal future, Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 76, 1, pp. 25-44, (2024)
2 Mcguinness, Séamus G., Skills-displacing technological change and its impact on jobs: challenging technological alarmism?, Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 32, 3, pp. 370-392, (2023)
3 Age of Surveillance Capitalism the Fight for A Human Future at the New Frontier of Power, (2019)
4 Maris, Elena R., Tech Worker Perspectives on Considering the Interpersonal Implications of Communication Technologies, Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 7, GROUP, (2023)
5 Anshari, Muhammad, Fourth Industrial Revolution between Knowledge Management and Digital Humanities, Information (Switzerland), 13, 6, (2022)
6 Business Management and Communication Perspectives in Industry 4 0, (2020)
7 Towards A Reskilling Revolution Industry Led Action for the Future of Work, (2019)
8 Eden Conference Proceedings, (2019)
9 Training Development, (2019)
10 International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, (2020)
Quick Actions
Full Text via DOI
Citation Metrics
0
Times Cited (Scopus)

References 10
Document Identifiers