The Digital Workforce Challenge: Mapping Soft Skills For Future-Ready Graduates

Sari Marliani; July  Yuliawati; Hendro Iwan  Pradipto; Muhammad  Akhdiyatul'aein; Febriyan  Muliany; Aryanti  Agustian; Isniar  Budiarti

doi:10.38035/dijemss.v6i4.4210

Authors

Sari Marliani Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
July Yuliawati Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
Hendro Iwan Pradipto Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
Muhammad Akhdiyatul'aein Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
Febriyan Muliany Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
Aryanti Agustian Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
Isniar Budiarti Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38035/dijemss.v6i4.4210

Keywords:

Soft SKills, Adaptability, Leadership, Communication, Teamwork, 21st-Century Skills

Abstract

This study's objectives are to assess the level of soft skill mastery among students, identify any issues that arise, and develop effective growth strategies. Soft skills are a crucial component in today's increasingly digital and dynamic workplace. This study assesses the mastery of soft skills as well as the strategy and tactics for developing them. A mixed-method approach was used to gather information: questionnaires were sent to 200 students, 50 students were given soft skill tests based on case studies, 10 students, 5 students, and 5 employees were interviewed, and the curriculum and report were analyzed. The study's findings indicate that the student has excellent communication skills (3.7) and teamwork (3.9), but is somewhat lacking in flexibility (2.9) and leadership (3.1). These soft skills emphasize that, while a student can solve problems in a straightforward manner, they struggle to deal with complex situations that require innovation and multidisciplinary teamwork. Interview and document analysis indicate that curriculum adherence and practical experience are crucial for developing soft skills. This study highlights the need for curriculum revision based on student feedback, increased access to learning, and the use of digital technology in education. It comes from combined research that looks at competency, what that means for the Chinese education system, and how to build soft skills through long-term experience. It is believed that this will serve as a foundation for educational institutions to implement more effective policies to increase student engagement

References

Akoum, R. (2023). Soft Skills and Graduate Employability: Insights And Research Model. Communications of International Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.5171/2023.4227523.

Anderson, J., Smith, R., & Taylor, L. (2023). Adaptability in the Digital Age: A Study of Workforce Readiness. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 44(2), 123-145.

Angelici, M., & Profeta, P. (2023). Smart Working: Work Flexibility Without Constraints. Manag. Sci., 70, 1680-1705. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4767.

Atolagbe, S., & Yan, B. (2022). Soft Skills Training: A Significant Tool for Future Achievement in Higher Education. Journal of Educational Theory and Management. https://doi.org/10.26549/jetm.v6i1.11376.

Awodiji, O., & Magogodi, C. (2023). Nexus between soft skills and technical vocational education and training graduate employability. INVOTEC. https://doi.org/10.17509/invotec.v19i1.56340.

Bedoya-Guerrero, A., Basantes-Andrade, A., Rosales, F., Naranjo-Toro, M., & León-Carlosama, R. (2024). Soft Skills and Employability of Online Graduate Students. Education Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14080864.

Brown, T., & Green, L. (2024). Building Resilience Through Experiential Learning. Educational Psychology Review, 36(1), 89-104.

Clark, R., & White, S. (2024). Critical Thinking in Higher Education: Challenges and Solutions. Journal of Educational Research, 57(3), 210-225.

Ghafar, Z. (2024). The evaluation research: A comparative analysis of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Journal of Language, Literature, Social and Cultural Studies. https://doi.org/10.58881/jllscs.v2i1.122.

Ghaith, M. (2024). The Effects of Soft Skills and Training Methodology on the Students’ Learning Performance and Graduate Employability in Jordan. Research and Advances in Education. https://doi.org/10.56397/rae.2024.01.01.

Haldar, S. (2024). The future of work: a symbiotic balance of technology and interpersonal skills. Strategic HR Review. https://doi.org/10.1108/shr-05-2024-0035.

Harjanti, R., Puspasari, D., Hidayat, A., Purnomosidi, R., Andari, Y., Bagaskara, B., Romadona, M., Setiawan, S., Budiansyah, A., Fachrizal, F., Helmi, R., Suryadi, S., Maulana, S., & Tsuraya, S. (2023). Gap in the Mastery of ICT Soft Skills for Vocational Graduate Workers in Industry: Case Study of LPP Polytechnic. STI Policy and Management Journal. https://doi.org/10.14203/stipm.2023.376.

Harris, M., Johnson, P., & Lee, K. (2023). The Role of Critical Thinking in Business Decision-Making. Business Horizons, 66(4), 512-525.

Hochwald, I., Green, G., Sela, Y., Radomyslsky, Z., Nissanholtz-Gannot, R., & Hochwald, O. (2023). Converting qualitative data into quantitative values using a matched mixed-methods design: A new methodological approach.. Journal of advanced nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15649.

Husin, M., Ibrahim, N., Abdullah, N., Syed-Mohamad, S., Samsudin, N., & Tan, L. (2022). The Impact of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and the Future of the Workforce: A Study on Malaysian IT Professionals. Social Science Computer Review, 41, 1671 - 1690. https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393221117268.

Hussain, M. (2024). The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Workforce Automation and Skill Development. Journal of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Neural Network. https://doi.org/10.55529/jaimlnn.44.11.21.

Johnson, P., & Lee, K. (2022). Digital Collaboration Tools in the Workplace: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Information Technology, 41(3), 301-315.

Juhász, T., Horváth-Csikós, G., & Gáspár, T. (2023). Gap analysis of future employee and employer on soft skills. Human Systems Management. https://doi.org/10.3233/hsm-220161.

Jurczuk, A., & Florea, A. (2022). Future-Oriented Digital Skills for Process Design and Automation. Human Technology. https://doi.org/10.14254/1795-6889.2022.18-2.3.

Karneli, O., Handayati, R., & Rijal, S. (2024). Enhancement of Soft Skills Competence in Human Resources as a Key Success Factor in the Digital Business Era. Journal of Contemporary Administration and Management (ADMAN). https://doi.org/10.61100/adman.v2i1.126.

Kaushik, R., & Sinsinwar, J. (2024). Significance of Soft Skills in Career Development. International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.22161/ijels.91.35.

Kurniahtunnisa, K., Anggraito, Y., Ridlo, S., & Harahap, F. (2023). STEM-PjBL Learning: The Impacts on Students’ Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration Skills. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i7.2985.

Kuzior, A., Krawczyk, D., Onopriienko, K., Petrushenko, Y., Onopriienko, I., & Onopriienko, V. (2023). Lifelong Learning as a Factor in the Country’s Competitiveness and Innovative Potential within the Framework of Sustainable Development. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139968.

Li, M., & Xie, Z. (2024). Dynamic Analysis and Forecasting of Employment Market Trends of College Graduates under Big Data Environment. Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Sciences. https://doi.org/10.2478/amns-2024-2624.

Mamun, F. (2024). Fostering Creativity and Critical Thinking in the Classroom: Strategies for 21st-century Education. International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research. https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i04.23563.

Martinez, R., & Kim, H. (2022). Cross-Cultural Communication in Global Teams: Challenges and Strategies. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 89, 45-60.

Miah, M., Erdei-Gally, S., Dancs, A., & Fekete-Farkas, M. (2024). A Systematic Review of Industry 4.0 Technology on Workforce Employability and Skills: Driving Success Factors and Challenges in South Asia. Economies. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12020035.

Nadeem, M. (2024). The Golden Key: Unlocking Sustainable Artificial Intelligence Through the Power of Soft Skills!. Journal of Management and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.5539/jms.v14n2p71.

Naveed, M. (2023). A Study on the Determination of Most Demanding Soft Skills at Workplaces. International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research. https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2023.v05i06.11401.

Nguyen, T., Anderson, J., & Robinson, L. (2023). Transformational Leadership in the Digital Era: A Meta-Analysis. Leadership Quarterly, 34(5), 678-695.

Nurjanah, I., Ana, A., & Masek, A. (2022). Work readiness of vocational high school graduates in facing the industrial 4.0 era. Jurnal Pendidikan Teknologi dan Kejuruan. https://doi.org/10.21831/jptk.v28i2.48552.

Obermayer, N., Csizmadia, T., Banász, Z., & Purnhauser, P. (2023). importance of digital and soft skills in the digital age. European Conference on Knowledge Management. https://doi.org/10.34190/eckm.24.2.1550.

Okudaira, H. (2020). Regulating the timing of job search: evidence from the labor market for new college graduates. Labour Economics, 67, 101941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2020.101941.

Peng, J., Ye, D., Tang, B., Lei, Y., Liu, Y., & Li, H. (2023). Lifelong Learning With Cycle Memory Networks.. IEEE transactions on neural networks and learning systems, PP. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNNLS.2023.3294495.

Robinson, L., & Adams, D. (2024). Leadership Development Through Simulation-Based Learning. Journal of Leadership Education, 23(2), 156-170.

Rumyantseva, O. (2023). Development of soft skills in higher education: students' opinion. Vestnik of Samara University. History, pedagogics, philology. https://doi.org/10.18287/2542-0445-2022-28-4-98-105.

Smith, A., Brown, T., & Taylor, S. (2023). Diversity and Innovation in Teams: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Management Studies, 60(1), 78-95.

Sulistyohati, A., Susanti, L., Ridwan, R., Paramita, A., & Nastiti, T. (2022). Development and Validation of The Work Readiness Model of Informatics Students Using Multiple Regression. 2022 IEEE 8th International Conference on Computing, Engineering and Design (ICCED), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCED56140.2022.10010691.

Taylor, S., Harris, M., & Clark, R. (2023). Virtual Communication Skills in Higher Education: A Case Study. Journal of Educational Technology, 48(4), 412-428.