Catherwood LibraryILR School

U.S. businesses and labor unions say that job seekers are lacking ?soft skills? such as punctuality, accountability, and willingness to accept supervision. Employers surveyed in the 2001 National Association of Manufacturers reported that 69 percent of job applicants lacked basic employability skills such as reading with understanding, speaking clearly, actively listening and resolving conflict. For this reason some states are working to develop a "work readiness" exam for prospective employees.