10/07/2026
What skills are Utah employers looking for, and where do they say new hires fall short? Three USU Extension researchers asked 226 hiring professionals across the state, and their findings are now published in the journal Administrative Sciences.
Employers reported the biggest gaps in time management, critical thinking, conflict resolution, ethical judgment, and verbal communication. For the next five to 10 years, they said communication, collaboration, analytical thinking, and lifelong learning will matter most. Most also named AI and machine learning as the technology most likely to change how work gets done.
If you're working toward a better job, this research shows you where your effort will count with employers. These are skills you can learn and practice right where you live.
The full paper is free to read: https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci16090413
Congratulations to Lendel Narine, Paul Hill, and Andreé Walker-Bravo on this publication!
Narine, L. K., Hill, P. A., & Walker-Bravo, A. (2026). A Discrepancy Evaluation of Workforce Capacity and Emerging Skills: A Utah Case Study. Administrative Sciences, 16(9), 413. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci16090413
