Soft Skills and Economic Growth: The Role of Communication in Workforce-Ready Education

Abstract

In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, soft skills, particularly communication, have become essential for workforce readiness, business success, and economic stability. While technical expertise remains crucial in finance, effective communication is increasingly recognised as a key competency in financial services, mortgage lending, and insurance advisory. This paper explores the role of communication in enhancing financial literacy, client advisory, and digital finance interactions, emphasising its impact on economic growth, professional adaptability, and consumer trust. Despite the growing demand for interpersonal and cross-disciplinary skills, a significant gap remains in finance education and workforce training, where curricula often prioritise technical proficiency over communication competencies. The review synthesises insights from global workforce initiatives, employer perspectives, and emerging trends in Education 4.0, highlighting best practices in integrating communication training into finance and business education. The findings suggest that structured policy interventions, university-industry collaborations, and AI-driven training programs are critical in addressing workforce communication gaps and ensuring long-term employability. Additionally, this study outlines future research directions, emphasising the need for empirical studies on communication’s role in financial decision-making, risk management, and workforce adaptability in global markets. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on economic resilience and financial inclusion in the digital era by advocating for a multidisciplinary approach that bridges finance, education, and policy.