Expert: Social and personal skills as important as other qualifications

The development of key social and personal skills could be as important to those looking for graduate jobs as accredited qualifications, it has been suggested.

According to David Gallagher, Head of Skills Leadership at Working Links, proficiency in such areas, in addition to literacy, numeracy and language abilities, will help those searching for jobs to stand out from the crowd.

'There is very clear evidence that the achievement of qualifications is massively important in regard to securing employment but also in regard to progressing in employment,' he commented.

Figures from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills show the government has invested around £26.5 million into skills and training in an effort to help people across London find and keep jobs during the economic downturn.

Meanwhile, over 187,000 qualifications were achieved by adults nationally through Train to Gain during 2007-08, more than twice the number recorded in the previous year.