Sport and Employability - era of the soft skills

In this article, Young Delegates Chloe Jordan, Michal Cmelik, Marie Lou Noirot, Jan Steinmuller and Paniz Yousefi from ENGSO Youth Education & Employability working group highlight the different ways and practices of answering the question, "How is sport related to employability?” and the way forward ensuring soft skill development in the sport sector for Youth employment.

Nowadays, employers expect different things from the youth working in their companies. More than the work related knowledge, they now prioritise skills that enable effective teamwork and communication. These qualities are known as “soft skills”, which are common expectations from the world of work (How Can Sports Help to Promote Youth Employment?, 2014). Soft skills are related to personal attributes, they directly relate to how a person works and interacts with others. Unlike hard skills, soft skills are more challenging to learn, given their innate nature, even so, they apply across industries and to any profession (Herrity & Indeed, 2023).

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Several researchers highlight that sports can bring “core” and “soft” skills like leadership, cooperation, respect for others, knowing how to win and lose, knowing how to manage competition, etc. (Quirós, n.d.). The International Labour Organization (ILO) believes in sports development and youth employment by supporting youth sports and peace programmes. Governments and federations have started to recognise the potential for sports to contribute to economic development and youth employability (Moustakas, 2023). This recognition comes from two fronts: sports programme development and the growth of the sports industry. On the one hand, sports programmes are effective vehicles for developing soft skills relevant to employment by showing that sports can create a range of competencies such as teamwork, communication, discipline or self-confidence. The growth of the sports industry highlights a need and is helpful for many countries as a vector for employment and economic development (Moustakas, 2023).

 As an example, we can use some programmes made for the development of skills from the youngest age, like the Olympic Values Education Program (OVEP) created and spread by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which leads to help grassroots sports and schools teachers to teach values and skills to children till the university level. (International Olympic Committee (IOC), n.d.)

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ENGSO Youth, through its Youth SK4YS manual for soft skills development, offers a handbook that aims to increase awareness about the transferable skills that sport-based educational activities can cultivate in young people, particularly those who are not employed in education or training.

The publication primarily targets youth and sports organisations seeking to implement programs that enhance specific soft skills in people from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition to offering practical advice, it highlights ten European organisations that run programs focused on employability and sport-based development for youth.

For the sports industry today, sports events are growing to highlight countries’ soft power and allow governments to be on the international stage. Welcoming the Olympic and Paralympic Games or the continental games for Rio in 2016 as the Panamerican games for Chile in 2023 increases youth’s employability and improves youth skills development. On the other hand, the youth Olympics gets less media attention, but sponsors see it as a potential stage for future athlete stars.

Therefore, such a youth event is a great platform for specific soft skills development not only for athletes but also for local communities. The Singapore National Olympic Council still works with the message of the 1stYouth Olympic Games by organising an annual Singapore Youth Olympic Festival, which supports the local youth sporting community not only on a sports level but also on a self-development level (Kor, 2020). 

 Sport can be related to employability in those two sectors. It allows youth to grow and learn skills through practice and volunteering and find an employer in the sports industry, one of the fastest-growing industries globally (Moustakas, 2023). Returning to the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, which started as the country’s first significant volunteer programme, has led to a nationwide movement of 5000 active volunteers today! The “purple army”, given its name based on the significant purple t-shirt assigned to the volunteers, is a group that has evolved into a critical centre for sports volunteerism in the country, participating in activities such as leading fitness classes and assisting as coaches at sports clubs. In recent years, the “purple army” has played a significant role in COVID-19 relief efforts, with over a thousand volunteers uniting to distribute masks nationwide (Kor, 2020).

Statistics are always a valuable tool for explaining the importance of such phenomena. The European Health & Fitness market was created only in 2022, with an annual revenue of 28 billion € (Statista, 2023). EU’s financial support to sports in 2020 reached 62 million € – solely through the Erasmus + projects (European Commission, 2019). And, of course, it is not only about the “money talk”. The German football market, for example, can rely on the involvement of 1.7 million volunteers (!), who are annually involved in nationwide football activities, from the grassroots level to the professional Bundesliga (DFL, 2022). In the data released by UEFA, around 16 000 volunteers were involved in Euro 2024. The sports market, in general, creates wide financial and, in many European countries, also infrastructure resources, which propose an excellent opportunity for youth to participate in such an environment and learn skills for their future employment.

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However, expectations should be on more than just the youth to be an active unit interested in sports activities. Any other sports actor needs to acknowledge the importance of youth as an initial factor in shaping sport.

Sports can be a medium that plays a part in the learning process and can be utilised in education. Sports’ positive impact is suitable for many people, including adolescents. It can influence someone’s physical and mental well-being positively. In addition, it allows participants to gain valuable skills for their lives, including those that may help them face difficult challenges. It may also help them improve their future outlook (Sport for Development, 2017).

An example is the A Ganar program in Latin America and the Caribbean. The program uses sports to help troubled youth in the region develop their social well-being and build market-driven skills that could be technical, entrepreneurial or vocational. Using sport as a mechanism provides youths with a relatable subject, especially for those who struggle with academia and conventional ways of learning. The experience is much more positive when sport is used in subjects and social activities. Youth who come from a hostile community environment may face violence, drugs and unemployment. A program like A Ganar also protects youth by taking them out of those situations and putting them into a program that provides long-term self-development that will lead to employability. Sports programs such as this also offer a network of local and international partners that believe in the same goal or vision. A Ganar’s program includes job placements for interns. This further strengthens the notion that sports can lead to employability (Partners of the Americas, 2015).

Conclusion

 

In conclusion, the relationship between sports and employability is increasingly recognised and valued in today’s evolving job market. Employers are placing a higher premium on “soft skills,” which encompass personal attributes crucial for effective interaction and collaboration in the workplace. Unlike technical or challenging skills, soft skills are innate and highly demanded across industries and professions.

 

Research has consistently demonstrated that engagement in sports not only cultivates physical abilities, but also fosters essential core and soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, and resilience. The recognition of sports’ potential contribution to economic development and youth employability is gaining traction from governments, international organisations like the International Labour Organization (ILO), and sports federations. This acknowledgement is evident through the development of sports programs that effectively nurture skills relevant to employment and the exponential growth of the sports industry, offering vast employment opportunities worldwide.

 

Various initiatives and partnerships between renowned companies and sports entities underscore the integral role of sports in skill development and employment generation. This connection extends beyond mere participation and volunteering, presenting youth with avenues to enter the rapidly expanding sports industry, recognised as one of the fastest-growing sectors globally.

 

Statistical insights further underscore the economic significance of the sports market, highlighting its substantial revenue generation and infrastructure development. These contribute to financial resources and present invaluable learning environments for youth seeking to acquire skills for their future employment.

 

While youth engagement in sports activities is vital, all stakeholders are responsible for recognising the pivotal role of young individuals in shaping the sports landscape and its reciprocal impact on their skills and employability.

 

In essence, the symbiotic relationship between sports and employability transcends mere physical activities; it encompasses a realm where the values, skills, and experiences gained through sports participation become instrumental in shaping a highly employable and adaptable workforce ready for the demands of the contemporary job market.

For further studies, we also recommend to have a look at: 

 

ENGSO Youth position paper on recognition and validation of skill for youth gained through sports

 

ERASMUS+ SK4YS (transnational initiative of European sport, youth organisations and educational institutions in order to raise awareness on soft skills and competencies gained through sport practice) 

 

ERASMUS + MONITOR – project implemented Employability Study’s recommendations while also developing a manual to enable (starting) youth, sport, employability and educations organisations to undertake systematic Monitoring and Evaluation.

References

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Moustakas, L. (2023, January 10). Sport for Employability | Encyclopedia MDPI. Scholarly Community Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 18, 2023, 

 

 

 

  • Partners of America. (2015). The A Ganar Alliance: Using Sport to Impact Youth Employment and Youth Engagement. In USAID.gov. United States Agency for International Development. Retrieved from United States Agency for International Development website: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KV64.pdf

 

 

 

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