Hard skills matter. But in the modern workplace, soft skills like empathy and emotional intelligence make a person employable and easier to collaborate with, especially in top jobs with the best pay.
That’s the message from this latest study by the research team at CashNetUSA. It analyzed data from Indeed that showed the most in-demand soft skills for jobs in the top 25% pay bracket across the USA.
Here’s a breakdown of the results.
The most in-demand soft skills
Strategic thinking is the most in-demand soft skill in the US job market, according to CashNetUSA. Its research found that almost 65% of all high-paying jobs require someone who knows how to formulate and deliver a successful strategy.
Negotiation comes next. It’s an essential soft skill for 58% of the top-paying jobs in the USA. The ability to persuade comes next; this delicate and subtle soft skill is essential for 57% of jobs that pay the big bucks.
Unique soft skills in demand in every US state
Active listening is the most sought-after quality in three states: Louisiana, Texas, and New York.
The best-paying employers in South Dakota are looking for staff with a positive attitude.
And what’s going on in workplaces across Maine, Indiana, and Minnesota? Whatever it is, it isn’t pretty; conflict management is the most important soft skill in all three locations.
States where different soft skills are in-demand
California is home to Silicon Valley, one of the most forward-thinking business environments in the world. So it’s no surprise that innovation is the most sought-after soft skill in The Golden State.
Employers in Montana, Utah, and Kentucky want ‘smart’ employees.
But it’s a different kind of smart they’re looking for. The number one in-demand skill in these three US states is emotional intelligence, or EQ. It’s the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions and those of others.
The soft approach in New York City
Want to make it big in the Big Apple? Then work on strategic thinking. Over 68% of the best paying jobs in New York list this as the number one soft skill.
And sharpen your presentation and negotiation skills; they’re the top in-demand soft skills for 50% of high-paying roles in the city.
It’s the same picture in Los Angeles
Los Angeles might be on the opposite coast to New York, but its employers are looking for the same qualities in their future employees. Just like in New York, strategic thinking and negotiation emerged as the most important soft skills in the LA job market.
The art of persuasion in Chicago
Successful persuaders are in huge demand in the Windy City. Over 70% of the top-paying jobs in Chicago want people who know how to bring others over to their point of view.
The in-demand soft skills for big tech in San Francisco
The big tech influence shines through the list of in-demand skills in San Francisco.
Innovation and strategic thinking scored highly. There’s also a real demand for employees who understand and can implement a truly diverse and inclusive workplace, signaling big tech’s desire to ensure their products and ethos are accessible to everyone.
Making it in Austin
Austin, Texas, is the USA’s second fastest-growing city. The city is a thriving technology hub, with companies like Amazon, Google, Oracle, and Tesla expanding their operations into the city. To land a job at one of these tech giants, you’ll need to develop three key soft skills: strategic thinking, persuasion, and presentation.
