Younger workers may be falling behind in critical thinking skills - HR Dive

A report from workforce analytics firm Cangrade has identified that younger workers are showing significant skill gaps in critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical reasoning. According to the report, these three areas represent 'the very skills most essential to humans in the AI era.' The findings are based on an analysis of AI-related job postings and workforce assessments.

The report highlights a disconnect between the skills that employers are increasingly demanding in roles that interact with AI tools and the competencies currently demonstrated by younger employees entering the workforce. Cangrade's analysis suggests that while AI-related job postings emphasize higher-order cognitive skills, younger candidates are not developing these at the same rate as previous generations.

The findings add to a growing body of research examining how AI adoption is reshaping skill requirements and the preparedness of incoming talent.