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Soft Skills of Czech Graduates

Author

Listed:
  • Balcar Jiří
  • Šimek Milan
  • Filipová Lenka

    (VSB - Technical University of Ostrava, Faculty of Economics, Sokolská třída 33, 701 21 Ostrava, Czech Republic.)

Abstract

Finding a job is easier for people who are better equipped with soft skills, as they are more productive. Therefore, this article deals with the evaluation of soft skills of graduates from Czech public universities. The results show that the same soft skills are required from university graduates as from the population as a whole (only problem solving is more pronounced with them), but the required level of these skills is 42% higher in the case of graduates. Unfortunately, employers perceive the level of graduates’ soft skills insufficient as their level is by 16.46 to 31.15% lower than required. A more detailed analysis showed that, in terms of the development of soft skills, Czech universities provide a very homogenous service. Graduates of universities have nearly the same level of soft skills, while they can also identify similar strengths and weaknesses. These findings suggest that Czech universities should pay more attention to the systematic development of soft skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Balcar Jiří & Šimek Milan & Filipová Lenka, 2018. "Soft Skills of Czech Graduates," Review of Economic Perspectives, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 45-60, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:reoecp:v:18:y:2018:i:1:p:45-60:n:3
    DOI: 10.2478/revecp-2018-0003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jiří Balcar, 2016. "Is it better to invest in hard or soft skills?," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 27(4), pages 453-470, December.
    2. Borghans, Lex & Weel, Bas ter & Weinberg, Bruce A., 2005. "People People: Social Capital and the Labor-Market - Outcomes of Underrepresented Groups," Research Memorandum 002, Maastricht University, Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    3. Lex Borghans & Bas ter Weel & Bruce A. Weinberg, 2008. "Interpersonal Styles and Labor Market Outcomes," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 43(4).
    4. Jiří Balcar & Lenka Janíčková & Lenka Filipová, 2014. "What General Competencies Are Required from the Czech Labour Force?," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2014(2), pages 250-265.
    5. Orazem, Peter F. & Vodopivec, Milan, 1997. "Value of human capital in transition to market: Evidence from Slovenia," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(3-5), pages 893-903, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fiji Phuti & Setlhomo Koloi-Keaikitse & Gaelebale Nnunu Tsheko & Seth Oppong, 2023. "Developing and Validating a Soft Skills Assessment Scale for Psychoeducational Assessment," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    graduates; language skills; professional skills; skill gap; soft skills; university;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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