{"id":3890068,"date":"2025-11-24T07:54:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T07:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/?p=3890068"},"modified":"2025-11-24T08:22:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T08:22:45","slug":"how-social-and-emotional-skills-are-rewarded-in-work-and-life-and-why-we-must-start-early","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/latest\/news\/how-social-and-emotional-skills-are-rewarded-in-work-and-life-and-why-we-must-start-early\/","title":{"rendered":"How social and emotional skills are rewarded in work and life and WHY WE MUST START EARLY"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3890068\" class=\"elementor elementor-3890068\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dc0d41c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dc0d41c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-776f5a0\" data-id=\"776f5a0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91c6ff7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"91c6ff7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 22-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">When employers say \u201cwe can\u2019t find employable candidates,\u201d they\u2019re rarely talking about pure knowledge gaps. More often, they\u2019re pointing to the missing <em>how<\/em>: how to collaborate, communicate clearly, navigate conflict, take feedback, organise time, stay resourceful &amp; resilient under pressure, and make sound judgements. These are social and emotional skills (sometimes called \u201ctransferable\u201d or \u201csocio-emotional\u201d skills). They don\u2019t replace literacy, numeracy, or technical know-how; they unlock them.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>The payoff: wages, work, and wellbeing<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">A growing body of international evidence shows that social and emotional skills (SES) are linked to better employment prospects, higher wages, and more satisfying lives. Recent<\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #ffcc00; text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/en\/publications\/skills-that-matter-for-success-and-well-being-in-adulthood_6e318286-en\/full-report\/how-are-social-and-emotional-skills-rewarded-in-work-and-life_11809f19.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">OECD<\/a> <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000080;\">analyses report that SES help predict labour-market participation, occupational choice, and earnings <em>alongside<\/em> cognitive skills, while also supporting health, civic engagement, and overall wellbeing. In some contexts, specific SES (e.g., self-management, sociability) matter as much as, or even more than, cognitive test scores for adult outcomes.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">The<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #ffcc00;\"> <a style=\"color: #ffcc00; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/thedocs.worldbank.org\/en\/doc\/f80b7709ebb5844221fecd2474bb6a1c-0200022023\/related\/Skills4Dev-May-2023-Socioemotional-Skills.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"><span>World Bank<\/span><\/a> <\/span><span style=\"color: #000080;\">likewise highlights SES as part of the \u201cfoundational skills\u201d set that drive productivity and employability, especially in low- and middle-income countries, with an expanding evidence base connecting these skills to educational and labour outcomes.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Bottom line:<\/strong> employers reward people who can <em>work with others and get work done<\/em>. That shows up in hiring decisions, promotions, client retention, and leadership opportunities\u2014not just in test scores.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Why the \u201cskills gap\u201d often looks social and emotional<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Many employers lament that entry-level recruits struggle to communicate, organise tasks, adapt to change, or solve open-ended problems. These are precisely the skills that enable graduates to turn their subject knowledge into value at work. When SES are weak, even strong technical training under-delivers; when SES are strong, people learn faster on the job and transfer knowledge across new roles and tools.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">The policy implication is clear: <strong>we can\u2019t remediate our way out of this in the last year of college.<\/strong> The pipeline must start much earlier.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Start before adolescence: the first decade is decisive<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Children who miss out on early language-rich, play-based, and emotionally nurturing environments often struggle later with both foundational (literacy, numeracy) and transferable skills (self-management, problem-solving, collaboration).<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #ffcc00; text-decoration: underline;\"> <a style=\"color: #ffcc00; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/early-childhood-development?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">UNICEF<\/a><\/span><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000080;\">underscores that early childhood is a unique window to shape holistic development: health, security, and <em>early learning<\/em> with lifelong consequences, including in the labour market. Its global framework on transferable skills reinforces that these competencies should be cultivated continuously from pre-primary onwards.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">In short: <strong>the earlier we start, the fairer and the more effective the outcomes.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Don\u2019t forget contexts of displacement and crisis<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">For refugees and children on the move, access to post-primary learning remains fragile. Here, transferable skills including coping, communication, and problem-solving support continuity of learning and psychosocial resilience, and help young people re-enter education or work when systems are disrupted. Investing in SES is therefore part of a humanitarian <em>and<\/em> an employability agenda.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>How Aflatoun International weaves social &amp; emotional skills into employability<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Aflatoun International\u2019s curricula are built on the insight that <strong>social and financial education belong together<\/strong>\u2014and that both should begin early and continue through adolescence into the transition to work.<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>From early years to adolescence.<\/strong> Programmes such as Aflatot (early childhood), Aflatoun (primary) and Aflateen (lower secondary) progressively develop self-awareness, empathy, communication, and responsible decision-making <em>alongside<\/em> financial habits like saving, planning, and goal-setting. Evidence from independent and partner evaluations shows positive effects on children\u2019s financial behaviours and broader empowerment outcomes, including at scale.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>AflaYouth (16\u201324+).<\/strong> Tailored for the school-to-work transition, AflaYouth integrates social and financial skills with <strong>employability<\/strong> and <strong>entrepreneurship<\/strong>, plus digital financial literacy and green awareness. It equips young people to navigate recruitment, excel in teams, start enterprises, and manage money\u2014practical, portfolio-ready competencies aligned with local labour markets.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Evidence-driven and adaptable.<\/strong> Aflatoun has conducted 100+ evaluations across 50+ countries, iterating content to fit diverse contexts\u2014from stable systems to humanitarian settings\u2014while keeping SES central to learning design and measurement.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Why this mix works:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><br \/><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Social and emotional skills make learning <em>stick<\/em> and make finance <em>responsible<\/em>; financial skills make agency <em>practical<\/em>; employability content connects both to real jobs and livelihoods. That integrated design mirrors what employers reward: reliable teamwork, problem-solving, initiative, and stewardship of resources.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>What education systems and partners can do next<\/strong><\/span><\/p><ol><li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Protect the early years.<\/strong> Expand access to quality early childhood care and education with a strong focus on play, language, and socio-emotional development. Track both foundational and transferable skills from the start.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Make SES explicit in curricula and assessment.<\/strong> Follow <span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #ffcc00;\"><a style=\"color: #ffcc00; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/content\/dam\/oecd\/en\/publications\/reports\/2024\/04\/social-and-emotional-skills-for-better-lives_7af2f463\/35ca7b7c-en.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">international frameworks<\/a><\/span> and surveys to define, teach, and <em>measure<\/em> SES (not just \u201chope for them\u201d). Use formative assessment to guide instruction.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Integrate \u201csocial + financial + employability\u201d.<\/strong> Pair budgeting, saving, and enterprise basics with teamwork, communication, and ethical decision-making\u2014then link to internships, apprenticeships, and mentorships. Aflatoun\u2019s laddered curricula offer a proven template.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Design for disrupted contexts.<\/strong> In humanitarian settings, use modular content, accelerated pathways, and psychosocial supports so young people can re-enter learning and work with dignity.<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Co-create with employers.<\/strong> Map local \u201csuccess skills\u201d by sector, embed work-based learning, and coach supervisors to reinforce SES on the job. The research is clear: SES are teachable and trainable across the life course.<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>A closing thought<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">If we want employers to stop lamenting \u201clack of employable skills,\u201d we must stop treating social and emotional learning as a nice-to-have. The evidence says it is a <strong>must-have<\/strong>\u2014for higher earnings, healthier communities, and more resilient democracies. Start early, build consistently, and keep the bridge from school to work <em>open<\/em> for every learner. Aflatoun International\u2019s integrated approach shows how: develop the whole person, connect learning to livelihoods, and make social and financial education the backbone of employability.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From shells and barter to coins, cash, cards, and mobile money &#8211; the way we pay keeps changing. What doesn&#8217;t change is the value of saving. As we celebrate World Savings Day, we reflect on how money has evolved throughout history, yet the fundamental principles of financial literacy remain as crucial as ever. At Aflatoun [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3890073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[66,65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3890068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3890068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3890068"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3890068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3890074,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3890068\/revisions\/3890074"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3890073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3890068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3890068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aflatoun.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3890068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}