Employers Value Attitude over Technical Skills – Analyst
By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh
Economic Analyst Emmanuel Boateng has revealed that employers are increasingly placing greater emphasis on attitude and work ethics than on technical competence when hiring employees.
Speaking on Business Breakfast on Zed 101.9, Mr. Boateng explained that while basic skills are important, many employers believe attitude plays a more critical role in workplace performance and productivity.
He recounted a recent discussion with a senior industry leader who revealed that during recruitment panels, employers often prioritise attitude over competence.
According to Mr Boateng, employers believe it is easier to improve an employee’s skills than to change a negative attitude.
He identified poor work attitudes such as laziness, disrespectful communication with supervisors, careless execution of tasks, lack of accountability and refusal to take responsibility as major concerns in many workplaces.
Mr. Boateng warned that negative attitudes among employees have a direct impact on organisational productivity, something employers are keen to avoid.
He also advised students and young people in tertiary institutions to go beyond academic coursework and focus on developing essential workplace skills. He noted that effective communication, presentation skills and active participation in group work are increasingly important to employers.
According to him, students must learn how to prepare and deliver presentations, communicate ideas clearly and contribute meaningfully to team efforts, as these practical skills are highly valued in today’s job market.
However, the Analyst also noted that data and digital skills have become some of the most important competencies in today’s job market, warning that many job seekers are still ill-prepared for modern workplace demands.
Mr. Boateng stressed that data skills are increasingly standing out as a key requirement for employment across sectors.
He expressed concern that some employees and even final-year university students lack basic computer skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word, or to create simple documents such as tables of contents.
According to him, this skills gap reflects a misunderstanding of what office work truly involves, with some young people assuming that working in an air-conditioned office is the essence of professional life, without appreciating the technical and analytical tasks required.
Mr. Boateng explained that without basic proficiency in tools such as Excel, PowerPoint and word-processing software, it becomes even more difficult for individuals to handle more advanced responsibilities, including basic data analysis and data description.
