North Carolina’s Portrait of a Graduate Highlights Essential Skills

As the demand for skilled workers in North Carolina grows, the state’s focus has shifted toward equipping students with essential durable skills. A recent analysis by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) supports the integration of these skills into the education system, highlighting their significance for job seekers across the state.

The analysis was shared with the State Board of Education, emphasizing the necessity of incorporating durable skills into the daily learning experiences of students in North Carolina. State Superintendent Catherine Truitt remarked on the findings: “Secretary of Commerce Machelle Baker Sanders and I share a passion for workforce development. This research echoes what both of us regularly hear from employers and underscores the importance of our Portrait of a Graduate work.” She further stressed the need for graduates to possess skills such as collaboration, communication, adaptability, and critical thinking to succeed in the modern workforce.

The Portrait of a Graduate, introduced in the fall of 2022, outlines seven key durable skills: adaptability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, empathy, learner’s mindset, and personal responsibility. These skills were aligned with data from the national Occupational Information Network (O*NET) to assess their impact on job performance.

LEAD researchers matched these skills against the NC Star Jobs rating system, which evaluates career prospects based on factors such as average wages and projected job openings. Occupations are rated from 1 to 5 stars, with 5-star jobs offering the most promising career opportunities. Each job was also given a “Portrait of a Graduate” score to reflect the importance of each skill.

Among the top careers that align with these skills are architects for adaptability, lodging managers for collaboration, and lawyers for communication. Other notable careers include electronics engineers for critical thinking, registered nurses for empathy, web designers for having a learner’s mindset, and construction managers for personal responsibility.

Key Insights

• Durable skills are at least “somewhat important” for every occupation and career cluster, indicating their necessity for effective job performance.
• Jobs that prioritize durable skills often offer higher pay.
• Occupations with significant emphasis on durable skills are expected to experience higher employment growth.
• These skills hold value across all education levels, with a higher importance placed on jobs requiring at least a bachelor’s degree. Many roles needing lesser qualifications, such as electricians and chefs, also recognize these skills as “important” or “very important.”

“As we celebrate the Year of Public Schools, this innovative research highlights the fact that increasing job readiness and career awareness among young people helps North Carolina respond to the needs of businesses and remain ‘First in Talent,’” stated N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. The collaboration between various departments has been pivotal in aligning educational and workforce systems to meet high-demand skill requirements.

This effort is further supported by initiatives like the NCcareers.org website, which serves as a comprehensive resource for job and career information in the state. Additionally, performance tasks have been developed to integrate these skills into classroom learning, encouraging students to explore careers and engage civically.

Earlier this year, a partnership with the NC Chamber Foundation resulted in the creation of a K-12 Talent Pipeline Toolkit, aimed at strengthening links between education and employment sectors.

Truitt concluded, “I want every North Carolina student to leave our public schools prepared to enter the workforce, join the military or pursue higher education. We must integrate durable skills into classroom curricula so that our graduates are equipped to succeed in family-sustaining jobs that are essential to our state’s economy.”