A Guide for Careers Professionals: New Skills and Competencies to Integrate Into Your Employability Offering
The UK labour market is undergoing a period of significant transformation. Technological advancements, globalisation, a growing emphasis on sustainability and the rise of AI are all reshaping workplaces and demanding a new set of skills from university graduates. These changes are also reflected in the higher education sector, where providers are similarly trying to grapple with the same transformations and, in the meantime, prepare their students to enter the world of work.
This guid explores the key areas where UK graduates need to develop their competencies to thrive in this evolving environment. With attention to graduate employment trends in the UK, we outline two major questions for careers professionals: how to provide inclusive, accessible employability for all students, and how to stay up-to-date on the latest labour market trends. From there, we discuss how professionals can approach these questions and develop a strategic, university-wide approach to employability that supports students to develop the most relevant and impactful skills and competencies for an evolving job market.
Understanding the Context: Policy, Technology and the Future of Work
A key facet of preparing graduates for life after university is developing an understanding of the current context and factors that are affecting the labour market. In the UK, there are many different elements at play, from government priorities and policies to the growing importance of certain sectors and the skills they require.
1. Growth and Demand
Changing political circumstances in the UK have made it hard to picture what we can expect in the long-term from the UK labour market and what the implications will be for graduates in terms of government policies and priorities. However, it seems like the priorities of the two major parties – Conservative and Labour – is to turn to the UK into a growth economy.
As a result, careers leaders should look towards industries and sectors where growth is already being registered or accepted. These could include seemingly obvious industries, such as energy, healthcare, financial technology (fintech) and sustainability. However, it could also be beneficial to keep an eye on what is happening in your local region.
As a 2021 OfS briefing note outlines, significant geographical disparities affect graduate outcomes in England, yet many students decide to remain in their place of study following graduation. Similarly, there has been a huge focus on the ‘levelling up’ agenda from both Labour and the Conservatives; that is, the effort to grow the economy and create new jobs across all regions of the UK.
And, by taking a look into what’s happening regionally, you might be surprised. A 2023 report by NatWest found that the fastest growing enterprises in London were bookshops, while in Leeds it was physical wellbeing activities. Data such as this can inform your general careers provision and can be particularly useful for encouraging enterprising and entrepreneurial behaviours among students and graduates.
2. New Technologies and Trends
Linked to the growing importance of STEM subjects, an increasingly digital workforce and one that is grappling with new technologies awaits graduates. For example, as the government projected in 2023, due to the growth of AI, there will be a net 10% increase in jobs that require a degree in the next 20 years.
However, it’s not just expertise in new technologies that graduates will have to develop. Further labour market analysis from the Department of Education (DfE) in 2023 expects that the UK will need over 1.2 million health and social care associate professionals, over 1 million health professionals and 1 million teaching and educational professionals all by the year of 2035.
These contextual factors mean that graduates will be expected to have certain skills and training, and that careers professionals must find effective ways of supporting them to develop these attributes and behaviours. Below we explore what some of these might be.
The Continuing Importance of "Essential Skills"
While technical expertise remains important in many fields, emphasis remains on what we call transferable "essential skills". These broad skillsets enable graduates to adapt and succeed across various roles and industries. Here's a breakdown of some key essential skills:
Communication: Clear and concise communication, both written and verbal, is essential for effective collaboration and building relationships in the world of work. This includes active listening, the ability to articulate ideas persuasively, and proficiency in various communication channels.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: The ability to analyse information, identify problems, and develop innovative solutions is crucial. Graduates need to be comfortable with ambiguity and able to think outside the box.
Teamwork and Collaboration: Teamwork is a fundamental aspect of the workplace, especially for new graduates who are just beginning their careers. Graduates must be adept at working effectively in diverse teams, fostering open communication, and resolving conflicts constructively.
Digital Literacy: Technology fluency is no longer a bonus; it's an essential skill that workers must possess. Graduates need proficiency in using digital tools, data analysis, and information security practices.
Self-Management: The ability to manage time effectively and prioritise tasks is vital.
Ensuring your careers service still supports student to develop these attributes in a changing world is crucial.
The Growing Importance of the “Skills of Tomorrow”
And what about ‘new’ skills or emerging trends across industries and sectors that might become important in coming years? We’ve outlined some of them below:
Continuous Learning and Curiosity: Taking ownership of one’s learning will set apart candidates in the graduate labour market. As upskilling and reskilling remain are prioritised by the government and the levelling up agenda is pursued, individuals who are curious and seek opportunities to learn new skills and competencies will thrive in the workplace.
Creativity and Originality: As the wider workforce discovers the capabilities of AI – and, importantly, it’s limitations – human creativity will play a new role in the world of work. Ideation, the ability to think differently and propose alternative solutions will all be valuable assets to the graduates of tomorrow.
Emotional Intelligence: The working world often comes down to the management of relationships and, in order to do that, workers must be able to express and regulate their emotions. Empathy will also become increasingly important as technology continues to be ever present in the workplace, a human skill that new software cannot replicate.
Critical and Analytical Thinking: Again, technology is a key player in the rising importance of this skill. The sense to not blindly accept the solutions and ideas that technology like AI presents us, and the ability to distinguish fact from fiction among the growth of misinformation, will be crucial.
Digital Fluency: In contrast to digital literacy, digital fluency means competency beyond simply knowing how to manage certain technological aspects of the world of work. The ability to design and programme technology will be a huge asset in the jobs of the future; for example, we might imagine a skill like coding to become required, if not extremely advantageous, in the coming years.
These skills are general and, in some cases, speculative, but it’s important not to lose sight of them when focusing on specialised or industry-specific skills as they support graduates across all industries and also help them to manage their career trajectories.
Beyond Essential Skills: Industry-Specific Needs
While essential skills provide a strong foundation, specific industries may require additional competencies. For example, graduates entering the green economy would benefit from expertise in sustainability practices and environmental data analysis. Careers advisors can help students identify these industry-specific needs and tailor their studies and extracurricular activities accordingly.
The Role of Careers and Employability Services
Having outlined the current conditions for graduates in the UK and the skills that are most pressing, let’s consider what the role of careers and employability services is – and how they can be instrumental in supporting to students to become successful graduates.
Careers and employability services within higher education institutions play a vital role in equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the workplace. With new technology and changing levels of growth among different industries, two major questions for consideration arise:
How can careers services support the employability of all students, regardless of background, degree subject or career aspirations?
How can careers leaders and professionals stay up-to-date with the latest labour market trends and engage meaningfully with employers to deliver a strategic, university-wide approach to employability?
Employability for All
As certain skills and industries become more prominent in the UK labour market, there is fear that there will be discrepancies in how graduates are able to access those roles. For example, how can we support students in the Arts and Humanities in a world that is increasingly oriented towards STEM graduates? And how do we account for different access to technology, software and even industry based on characteristics such as socioeconomic status or geographic location?
From these questions, it’s clear that employability must be inclusive and accessible. For this reason, integrating employability into the curriculum is crucial as it’s the only aspect of university life that all students are pretty much guaranteed to engage with. To understand the challenges and opportunities surrounding the implementation of this, you can explore HE Professional content on the theme and also take a look at related Advance HE and AGCAS resources, as well as this guide from the Careers Service at the University of Bristol.
It's worth keeping in mind, however, that some students will want to explore career paths that may not align neatly with their choice of degree, making integrating employability challenging. In this instance, live projects and industry challenges can be transformative for students. City, University of London support their students to undertake microplacements. This programme offers opportunities for students who want to explore careers different from those traditionally associated with their degree, but they also constitute a 15-credit elective module. By offering means-tested hardship bursaries, the university have also made the programme more accessible to students from all backgrounds.
For further guidance on making employability accessible and dynamic, you can see AGCAS’s recent HE Professional blog exploring the value of live projects, a case study from Brunel, University of London highlighting how they use industry challenges to augment graduate employability, and a webinar from Aranee Manoharan (King’s College London and AGCAS) on building inclusive employability across the whole student lifecycle.
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Integrating employability into the curriculum and making careers support accessible and inclusive is one step, but it’s important to ensure that the guidance and support available is relevant and up to date. Staying ahead of trends in graduate recruitment is becoming increasingly important for careers professionals working in university settings.
There are many resources available to professionals, including but not limited to:
Prospects Luminate publish a monthly graduate labour market update from Charlie Ball, Head of Labour Market Intelligence at Jisc
The Institute of Student Employers (ISE) has made available a range of resources covering the most important skills and trends for graduates
A recent update from UUK considers the ‘jobs of the future’ and offers a number of case studies highlighting how universities are preparing their graduates, including a computer vision and machine learning summer school, a video game design competition and a robotics project
Various government departments such as the DfE, the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology and the Department for Business & Trade provide regular policy updates and announcements as well as reports, which you can receive via email.
Beyond these resources, two further action areas you can consider is using labour market intelligence within the research remit of your institution and maintaining good relationships with industry and business. At the University of Strathclyde, the Careers Service works with academics to use labour market intelligence to plan, market and review their courses. This includes embedding employability into the curriculum. This approach makes careers planning more accessible and ensures that the skills students are developing are relevant and advantageous for the life they’ll lead after graduating.
As for employer engagement, building and maintaining good relationships with industry is a great way to ensure you are plugged into the latest recruitment trends and aware of the specific skillsets recruiters are looking for. Collaborating live projects and industry challenges is a great way to do this, but it could also include conducting research with your employer partners through focus groups and surveys and making sure they have access to useful resources and programmes that can keep your contact frequent and positive. For some inspiration, take a look at how the University of East London has developed their Diversity of Thought (DoT) talent programme to support employers in recruiting students from diverse backgrounds.
The Latest Innovations in Careers and Employability
The UK job market presents both challenges and exciting opportunities for graduates. By developing a strong foundation in essential skills, coupled with industry-specific knowledge and a commitment to lifelong learning, graduates can position themselves for success. Careers and employability services within higher education institutions play a critical role in this journey, empowering graduates with the tools and guidance they need to thrive.
There are many creative approaches to doing this, from live projects to microplacements, bespoke recruitment programmes and making use of institutionally produced labour market intelligence. You can find out how employability leaders and professionals are innovating in this space by signing up to our weekly newsletter, where we showcase our content and events exploring the latest ideas and insights on enhancing student outcomes and experience.
