Employment Agency Perspective: The Top Soft Skills in 2025
Author: TriStarr
Emerging technologies like AI are transforming the work environment, but they cannot entirely compensate for an employee who lacks the necessary abilities to communicate effectively, problem solve or work collaboratively. In 2025, the skills most in demand for professional staff aren’t hard skills like cybersecurity, project management, or data analysis. From the perspective of TriStarr Staffing, an expert Pennsylvania employment agency, the candidates most likely to succeed are those who demonstrate strong soft skills. Recent research from Harvard’s Alex Bell and findings by Randstad Enterprise, highlighted in Reuters coverage, reveal a growing demand for soft skills in the white-collar workforce. These insights underscore the importance of employment agency screening processes that go beyond technical qualifications to identify well-rounded candidates.
What are the top soft skills for 2025?
Communication skills
Effective communication requires more than proper grammar and vocabulary; it requires active listening, situational awareness, respect, empathy, clarity, and conciseness. With 37% of young people lacking communication skills, the data points to a critical gap – and a pressing need for businesses to prioritize these abilities to drive success.
Teamwork
Working collaboratively drives innovation, increases productivity, and improves resilience to workplace changes. One survey found that 86% of respondents blamed a lack of workplace collaboration or ineffective communication for workplace failures.
Problem-solving
The ability to synthesize information and ideas to create effective solutions, ideas, strategies is critical in today’s ever-changing world. Research from Zipdo found that:
- Problem-solving skills are ranked among the top three skills employers seek.
- 50 percent of workplace conflicts are resolved through effective problem-solving.
- Teams with strong problem-solving skills report 20 percent higher project success rates.
Resilience and Adaptability
The most successful teams are those that can recover from setbacks and can adapt to meet new challenges and opportunities. Employees who demonstrate flexibility in the workplace and are open to change are highly sought after by employers.
Time Management
By mastering time management, employees are more likely to achieve professional goals and increase productivity. Key time management skills include goal setting, organization, and planning. Employers look for candidates who have proven experience meeting deadlines and prioritizing responsibilities.
How does a top employment agency evaluate candidates for soft skills?
An employment agency assesses candidates’ experience, knowledge, and past performance using a range of evaluation methods. These include screening questionnaires, skill tests, psychometric evaluations, and cognitive assessments.
How does an employment agency develop top candidates for clients?
Employment agencies often work with recent graduates and less experienced candidates. To help bridge skill gaps and provide clients with top candidates, agencies often offer comprehensive training programs and upskilling opportunities. Employers may also enlist an agency to provide teambuilding exercises to further develop their staff’s soft skills such as problem-solving and communication post-employment.
The TriStarr employment agency advantage
TriStarr Staffing, an industry-leading employment agency serving Lancaster, Harrisburg, York, Pittsburgh, and the Lehigh Valley, is committed to providing our clients with quality service and talented people. Our services for employers include staffing, recruiting, and human resources consulting. Contact us today to learn more.
Emerging technologies like AI are transforming the work environment, but they cannot entirely compensate for an employee who lacks the necessary abilities to communicate effectively, problem solve or work collaboratively. In 2025, the skills most in demand for professional staff aren’t hard skills like cybersecurity, project management, or data analysis. From the perspective of TriStarr Staffing, an expert Pennsylvania employment agency, the candidates most likely to succeed are those who demonstrate strong soft skills. Recent research from Harvard’s Alex Bell and findings by Randstad Enterprise, highlighted in Reuters coverage, reveal a growing demand for soft skills in the white-collar workforce. These insights underscore the importance of employment agency screening processes that go beyond technical qualifications to identify well-rounded candidates.
What are the top soft skills for 2025?
Communication skills
Effective communication requires more than proper grammar and vocabulary; it requires active listening, situational awareness, respect, empathy, clarity, and conciseness. With 37% of young people lacking communication skills, the data points to a critical gap – and a pressing need for businesses to prioritize these abilities to drive success.
Teamwork
Working collaboratively drives innovation, increases productivity, and improves resilience to workplace changes. One survey found that 86% of respondents blamed a lack of workplace collaboration or ineffective communication for workplace failures.
Problem-solving
The ability to synthesize information and ideas to create effective solutions, ideas, strategies is critical in today’s ever-changing world. Research from Zipdo found that:
- Problem-solving skills are ranked among the top three skills employers seek.
- 50 percent of workplace conflicts are resolved through effective problem-solving.
- Teams with strong problem-solving skills report 20 percent higher project success rates.
Resilience and Adaptability
The most successful teams are those that can recover from setbacks and can adapt to meet new challenges and opportunities. Employees who demonstrate flexibility in the workplace and are open to change are highly sought after by employers.
Time Management
By mastering time management, employees are more likely to achieve professional goals and increase productivity. Key time management skills include goal setting, organization, and planning. Employers look for candidates who have proven experience meeting deadlines and prioritizing responsibilities.
How does a top employment agency evaluate candidates for soft skills?
An employment agency assesses candidates’ experience, knowledge, and past performance using a range of evaluation methods. These include screening questionnaires, skill tests, psychometric evaluations, and cognitive assessments.
How does an employment agency develop top candidates for clients?
Employment agencies often work with recent graduates and less experienced candidates. To help bridge skill gaps and provide clients with top candidates, agencies often offer comprehensive training programs and upskilling opportunities. Employers may also enlist an agency to provide teambuilding exercises to further develop their staff’s soft skills such as problem-solving and communication post-employment.
The TriStarr employment agency advantage
TriStarr Staffing, an industry-leading employment agency serving Lancaster, Harrisburg, York, Pittsburgh, and the Lehigh Valley, is committed to providing our clients with quality service and talented people. Our services for employers include staffing, recruiting, and human resources consulting. Contact us today to learn more.
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