October 20, 2023 

Over the last three years, the Fort Worth Chamber has meticulously tracked the top three challenges local businesses are currently facing. Talent has consistently ranked among the top three challenges year after year. The Chamber has learned that IT/tech positions are the most difficult to fill, closely followed by positions in healthcare. The FWC's Business Retention and Expansion committee has learned that the most significant skills gap identified by local companies exists within the realm of soft skills. Soft skills deemed most critical by businesses include communication skills, time management, innovation/problem-solving, personal responsibility and initiative, critical thinking, and teamwork. 

Businesses across the board have indicated that while hard skills are essential for entering the market, it is soft skills that truly drive business success. It is challenging for a business to thrive when its employees lack these essential soft skills. 

Both locally and nationally, companies have expressed that they can teach employees technical/hard skills, but cultivating necessary soft skills remains a challenge. This is precisely why the Fort Worth Chamber is launching an initiative to provide area school districts with a Power Skills Curriculum. This initiative will be a primary focus in the first half of 2024.  

If you have any recommendations or existing resources to contribute, please do not hesitate to reach out to Netty Matthews.