A new national study from High Point University reveals a striking consensus between C-Suite executives and Human Resources professionals: while skills in artificial intelligence are increasingly valuable in today's workplace, life skills remain the decisive factor in hiring decisions and achieving career success.
Life Skills vs. AI Skills: The Hiring Preference
When forced to choose between a candidate with solely AI technical capabilities or one with solely life skills, the winner was clear: 75% of C-Suite executives and 78% of HR professionals chose the life skills candidate. Ninety percent of C-Suite executives and 93% of Human Resources professionals agree that life skills such as emotional intelligence, work ethic, motivation and collaboration still matter when hiring in the artificial intelligence era.
A Powerful Combination
The two surveys were fielded separately with two distinct samples from April 28-30, 2026. Despite different vantage points — one group setting strategic direction, the other managing talent pipelines — they arrived at similar conclusions with their answers aligning within 1-4 percentage points on nearly every survey item.
- 90% of C-Suite executives and 93% of HR pros agree that life skills such as emotional intelligence, work ethic, motivation and collaboration still matter when hiring in the AI era.
- 87% of C-Suite executives and 92% of HR pros say the ideal leader in the workplace possesses a balance of technical and life skills.
- Only 17% of C-Suite executives and 14% of HR pros have ever hired someone based solely on AI experience.
- When asked to devise their “perfect employee,” 64% of C-Suite executives and 66% of HR pros chose a roughly 50/50 blend of AI skills and life skills.
Life Skills Remain Crucial for Career Success
“We are intensely focused on the success of our students and work tirelessly to ensure the education we provide fits the needs of the competitive marketplace,” says HPU President Nido Qubein. “This is why HPU has surveyed business leaders over the years for their feedback, and these results reaffirm our mission as The Premier Life Skills University. Even in the midst of artificial intelligence changing the workplace, employers continue to tell us they need graduates equipped with life skills that outlast inevitable technological disruption.”
“These findings highlight why life skills remain at the center of career success,” says Heidi Echols, director of HPU’s Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. “AI can enhance how work is done, but it is human capabilities like communication, collaboration and problem solving that determine how effectively AI is used. At High Point University, we are focused on a human-centered approach to AI that prepares students to excel in both areas.”
