How Hays is reimagining recruitment through human skills

Published: 05 December, 2025
 
Hays has been recognised at the CEO Magazine Awards for its role in the 100% Human at Work project, a movement reshaping how Australians enter and progress within the workforce. This accolade celebrates Hays’ commitment to pioneering new approaches that prioritise human capabilities and collaborative leadership, which is critical for the future of recruitment. 
 

What does the CEO Magazine Award mean for Hays and future of work

The award recognises Hays’ collaboration with Deloitte, Commonwealth Bank, AMP, SMEC, and SunRice Group under the Australian Innovation Cluster, powered by Virgin Unite and The B Team. Together, these organisations are reimagining workforce entry and mobility through the Australian Skills Pilot, which focuses on real-world jobs and human capabilities. 
 
Hays’ recognition at the CEO Magazine Awards highlights their leadership in rethinking recruitment and workforce mobility in Australia and beyond. It reinforces investor confidence, attracts top talent, and validates strategic decisions, showcasing the strength of their leadership and their commitment to driving innovation within organisations.
 

Why human skills are critical for recruitment in a changing world

The world of work is changing rapidly. Employers and recruiters are no longer just matching CVs to job descriptions but rather prioritising and building pathways based on human skills. These skills are harder to master, transferable, and are critical for leadership and driving adaptability and resilience. By championing this approach, Hays is helping businesses and candidates thrive in an era where technical skills alone aren’t enough.
 

What are human skills and how do they differ from soft skills?

Human skills are often labeled as ‘soft skills’ yet there is nothing soft about them. These are vital capabilities such as communication, adaptability, and empathy that empower people to thrive in an ever-changing world of work. Unlike technical skills, which can quickly become obsolete, human skills endure and hold greater value and permanence in an AI-driven era. They are the true differentiator, forming the backbone of collaboration, leadership, and resilience, qualities that technology cannot replicate. Hay champions human skills because they’re not optional; they are essential.
 
These capabilities enable people to succeed in dynamic environments. They include:
 
  • Critical thinking & problem solving: Navigating complexity and ambiguity
  • Collaboration & communication: Working effectively across teams and cultures 
  • Adaptability & resilience: Embracing change and learning continuously  
  • Empathy & inclusion: Building workplaces grounded in respect and belonging
These skills reflect the 100% Human at Work values: respect, equity, growth, belonging, and purpose. They are essential for thriving in a fast-changing world of work and must be durable and resilient to withstand the complexity of today’s workforce.
 

Top skills for the future: Insights from the Hays 2025 Skills Report

According to the Hays 2025 Skills Report, 85% of hiring managers in Australia and New Zealand report skills gaps, with hard/technical skills most lacking (57%), closely followed by human skills such as:
 
  • Critical thinking and problem solving (50%)
  • Leadership and management (46%)
  • Communication (41%) 
Looking ahead, the top skills needed are:
 
  • Communication, teamwork and collaboration (84%)
  • Critical thinking and problem solving (81%)
  • Adaptability and flexibility (71%)
With 87% of professionals expecting their roles to change, continuous learning, skills-based hiring, and targeted upskilling are now essential.
 
"Recruitment is no longer just about filling roles, it’s about shaping futures. By embedding human skills into workforce strategies, we’re helping employers build teams that can thrive in a fast-changing world," said Shane Little

About Hays

Hays plc (the "Group") is the world’s leading specialist in recruitment and workforce solutions, such as Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Managed Service Provider (MSP). The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional, and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK, Germany, and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As of 31 December 2024, the Group employed over 10,300 staff operating from 225 offices in 33 countries.


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