CompTIA and America Succeeds Launch Durable Skills Advantage Framework

The Durable Skills Advantage Framework is now live, announced by non-profits CompTIA and America Succeeds. Formed in 2022, the CompTIA-America Succeeds partnership promotes the concept that Durable Skills are critical components of successful careers because they hold value and relevance throughout a career, irrespective of the constantly evolving technologies, business models and trends in business over the decades of an employee's career.

America Succeeds is a Denver-based nonprofit organization committed to engaging business leaders in modernizing education systems to drive equity and opportunity. According to its website, America Succeeds "is uniquely positioned between business and the education policy sector, acting as an 'education voice to business' nationally and a “business voice for education” at the state level."

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the world’s leading information technology (IT) certification and training body. In December 2022, Chicago-based CompTIA acquired TestOut Corporation, a 20+ year old ed tech company based in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Its Utah employees work out of Kiln Lehi.

In 2019, America Succeeds began testing the hypothesis that all jobs require Durable Skills. The organization put together over a hundred related keywords into a group of 110+ Durable Skills competencies based on 21st-century skills research. It analyzed more than 82 million job postings in partnership with Lightcast and began to construct in phases a method of organizing Durable Skills into a workable framework. Lightcast and America Succeeds published their initial report, The High Demand for Durable Skills, in October 2021.

In April 2022, CompTIA and America Succeeds began its partnership to develop and refine the Durable Skills Framework.  The partnership solicited feedback from over 800 organizations to create a first-of-its-kind employee-generated common lexicon for Durable Skills. The partnership views this framework as a standard baseline of skills such as communication, critical thinking, collaboration and leadership that, according to its website argues "that global employers recognize as valuable to practitioners of diverse backgrounds, regardless of profession, industry, or vertical sector. This is a critical first step in addressing existing education and skill validation gaps around Durable Skills in an equitable way."

In August 2022, America Succeeds launched DurableSkills.org, an analysis of career readiness standards, work-based learning frameworks, and workforce readiness graduation requirements, based on input from 50-states, including D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico. The site offers general policy recommendations that support the development of Durable Skills.

In January 2023, CompTIA and America Succeeds convened meetings with subject matter experts from across the country to develop a draft of the Framework. Over 2023, the partnership refined the draft through engagements with stakeholders and contributors.

In January 2024, the Framework draft was finalized and published formally as Durable Skills Advantage Framework.

The Durable Skills Advantage Framework's foundation consists of 110+ Durable Skills competencies that the partnership derived from 82 million job postings. America Succeeds crosswalked 21st-century skills, human skills, essential skills, and social-emotional learning frameworks to identify ten competency categories, which are arranged in a circular graphic like spokes of a wheel. Each competency category represents ten labor market keyword terms used to describe Durable Skills in job postings:

1. Communication: Information exchange and management
2. Leadership: Directing efforts and delivering results
3. Metacognition: Self-understanding and personal management
4. Critical Thinking: Informed ideas and effective solutions
5. Collaboration: Teamwork and connection
6. Character: Personal and professional conduct
7. Creativity: New ideas and novel solutions
8. Growth Mindset: Improvement and aspiration
9. Mindfulness: Interpersonal and self-awareness
10. Fortitude: Constitution and inspiration

America Succeeds points to three key conclusions from the analysis: 1-Durable Skills comprise seven of the top ten most requested skills in job postings; 2- the top five requested Durable Skills are requested nearly five times as often as the top five hard or technical skills. And 3- leadership and communication are the most in-demand Durable Skills competencies, according to the job posting analysis.

Below is the full list of Durable Skills outlined in the wheel graphic. For more information about the Framework, visit Durable Skills Advantage Framework.

1. Character
2. Professionalism
3. Enthusiasm
4. Accountability
5. High Motivation
6. Trustworthy
7. Tactfulness
8. ReliabilityEthical ConductSocial SkillsHigh Integrity
9. Collaboration
10. Interpersonal
11. Communications
12. Coordinating
13. Teamwork
14. Scheduling
15. Team Oriented
16. Team Leadership
17. Collaboration
18. Team Building
19. Cooperation
20. Virtual Teams
21. Communication
22. Communications
23. Presentations
24. Written Communication
25. Verbal Communication
26. Skills
27. Negotiation
28. Multilingualism
29. Public Relations
30. Social Media
31. Persuasive
32. Communication
33. Public Speaking
34. Creativity
35. Innovation
36. Creativity
37. Creative Problem-Solving
38. Creative Thinking
39. Imagination
40. Visionary
41. Ingenuity
42. Ideation
43. Experimentation
44. Brainstorming
45. Critical
46. Thinking
47. Problem Solving
48. Research
49. Troubleshooting
50. Prioritization
51. Investigation
52. Data Analysis
53. Critical Thinking
54. Intellectual Curiosity
55. Complex Problem Solving
56. Analytical Thinking
57. Fortitude
58. Resilience
59. Motivational Skills
60. Optimism
61. Tenacity
62. Assertiveness
63. Self-Discipline
64. Team Motivation
65. PersistenceCalmness Under PressureSelf Confident
66. Growth
67. Mindset
68. Self StarterStrategic Planning
69. Proactivity
70. Curiosity
71. Resourcefulness
72. Goal Oriented
73. Entrepreneurship
74. Action Oriented
75. Results Focused
76. Self-Sufficiency
77. Leadership
78. Management
79. Leadership
80. Mentorship
81. Decision Making
82. Influencing Skills
83. Project Management
84. Advocacy
85. Risk Management
86. Leadership Development
87. Thought Leadership
88. Metacognition
89. Detail Oriented
90. Planning
91. Teaching
92. Organizational Skills
93. Time Management
94. Adaptability
95. Diplomacy
96. Goal Setting
97. Multitasking
98. Constructive Feedback
99. Mindfulness
100. Hospitality
101. Compassion
102. Customer Relationship
103. Management
104. Empathy
105. Patience
106. Listening Skills
107. Active Listening
108. Emotional Intelligence
109. Humility
110. Culturally Sensitive