In the age of AI, technical skills matter—but human skills are what differentiate us.

 

As automation accelerates, a new body of research confirms what many pathway intermediaries have long observed: the future of work will reward the very skills that are hardest to measure and easiest to overlook—communication, adaptability, empathy, leadership, and trust.

 

Forbes calls these “critical” in the AI era. Gallup shows Gen Z is hungry for purpose and relationships. The U.S. Chamber warns that our aging, shrinking workforce can’t meet the moment unless we invest in the human side of work. And new research from TalentLMS shows Gen Z themselves are optimistic about AI—but worried about losing the interpersonal skills that make them valuable.

 

These insights point to the same truth: traditional classrooms struggle to teach these skills. Pathways let students practice them—in real places, with real people, and real stakes.

 

The articles below can help you tell that story.