In the ever-evolving landscape of talent acquisition, many employers remain confident in their ability to attract and train workers using their tried-and-true traditional methods combined with emerging trends like tech bootcamps.  

 

There’s even been a push for skills-based hiring—with mixed results. A handful of companies have embraced it, finding tremendous success in hiring for skills over degrees, but others entertain the theory, but when the rubber hits the road, tend to fall back on the degree as a proxy for skills because it’s familiar and feels safe. 

 

But even as more and more industries widen their nets and adopt new training strategies, we’re left with a skills gap. Why is that?

 

It might be because we’re missing an important chapter in the story we’re telling ourselves: the youth chapter. 

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Yes, we need more companies to embrace skills-based hiring. But to truly reap the benefits of the new, diverse talent pipeline that work-based learning promises, companies need to meet young people where they are and invest in the essential soft skills necessary for early-career professionals. 

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The future of work lies in recognizing and nurturing the potential of young professionals today so that they can become the industry leaders of tomorrow.