Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicates 85% of job success comes from having well-developed soft skills and people skills, and only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (or “hard” skills). Employers are often prepared to teach technical job skills; however, intangible skills that promote human capital – like being a team player, time management, professional productivity, and positive attitude – are difficult to teach on-site but are critical to employee success.

To equip Kentucky FCS agents with skills and resources to address these issues in their local communities, the University of Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Service offered a statewide, all-day FCS Economic Workforce Development Training on October 17, 2023, at the Hardin County Extension Office. Dr. Nichole Huff, Extension Specialist for Family Resource Management, received funding to support this event through the Smith Lever Extension Innovation Funds awarded by Dr. Laura Stephenson, Associate Dean and Director of Extension in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the University of Kentucky. Training efforts were supported by Mindy McCulley, Extension Specialist for Instructional Support, and Kelly May, Senior Extension Associate for Family Finance and Resource Management.

To provide clientele with the personal skill sets and resources to be workforce ready, as well as to assist individuals in learning strategies to maximize their time and output in the workplace, the FCS Economic Workforce Development Training included two University of Kentucky FCS curricula: Positive Employability: Preparing for Financial Success and Time Well Spent: Productivity Skills for Success. The Family Finance and Resource Management (FRM) team worked closely with the University of Kentucky Alumni Association to include Job Club Kentucky in the event. Training objectives included (1) equipping FCS agents to teach both curricula and (2) introducing them to the resources offered through Job Club Kentucky. 

54 new FCS agents attended the event. Of those who completed the post-training evaluation (n = 48), 100% said they plan to use Positive Employability and Time Well Spent in their county programming efforts, and 75% said they plan to incorporate resources from Job Club Kentucky.

Apart from using the material professionally, agents shared that they are likely to apply the materials to their own life. One participant stated they would use the materials to "better their work-life balance and make time in their busy schedule."

When asked how they anticipate using the materials in their county, one participant stated, “These materials are such a great resource for working with people new to the workforce or those who find themselves with the opportunity to rethink their career path.” Another offered, “Time Spent Well will apply to people in all situations, so I can see it becoming my go-to when I need a program to ‘pick up and go’.”

Agents shared interest in using the programs with a variety of audiences, including Kentucky Extension Homemakers, young adults preparing for the workforce, and substance use recovery audiences. One noted, “Positive Employability would be a great asset with a drug court program I am working with in the new year.”