Why some employers are paying extra for ‘human’ skills

The Sydney Morning Herald - Sep 9, 2026

Some companies are rating staff on their use of AI, while others say graduates lack “soft skills”. What are young jobseekers to do?

Read full article

More News

Sep 11, 2026

Mining stocks tumble to weigh down ASX; oil climbs to its highest mark since May

The Australian share market is careening toward its worst week since the US-Iran war began, as surging oil prices pressure bond yields and squeeze central banks to hike borrowing costs.

Sep 11, 2026

Cap Raise Crucible: Canaccord leads big mining dash for cash

The Cap Raise Crucible saw ASX cheque books wide open with over 35 raisings chasing $687.5M, led by big mining books. Canaccord was at the pointy end with nine deals worth $380M.

Sep 11, 2026

Superannuation is too important for populism

The nation’s retirement savings pool is not a political piggy bank.

Sep 10, 2026

‘I’m stoked’: Change of fortune for village pub as new owner vows to revive it

Clifton Hill’s Royal Hotel has been snapped up for $5.51 million by a local publican keen to reopen the local favourite.

Sep 10, 2026

Fancy a Sydney ferry for $2.5m? Floating harbour restaurant for sale

The heritage-listed ferry, converted into a floating restaurant, is docked at Berrys Bay near McMahons Point.

Sep 10, 2026

Can someone ‘please explain’ One Nation’s messaging muddle?

One Nation is riding high in the polls, but Pauline Hanson just can’t seem to get her team’s messaging in order.

Sep 10, 2026

Early access to super benefits one group. You’re probably not a part of it

One Nation’s latest policy could benefit a small club of people. Some Australians might believe that includes them.

Sep 10, 2026

When did we become so concerned about trivial things at work?

Two colleagues sometimes come into the office after 9am and the office is grumbling – for no good reason.

Sep 10, 2026

She lost her sight. Her Wall Street billionaire father bet on a daring new treatment

Bill Ackman’s life was upended in February when his 26-year-old daughter collapsed in her Brooklyn apartment. So he made a $556 million pledge.

Sep 10, 2026

Miners and banks send ASX tumbling as oil prices, bond yields rise

The Australian sharemarket has slumped to a fresh six-week low as crude oil traded above $US100 a barrel amid further escalation in the US war with Iran.

Sep 10, 2026

Australia softens local gas supply rules, easing fears in Asia

Labor has softened new laws designed to hold back more gas for Australian buyers after talks with producers and pressure from key Asian trade partners.

Sep 10, 2026

Critical Resources battery tech holds firm in month-long test

Critical Resources’ battery tech powered through a one-month cycling test, with its full-format cell retaining 75% capacity, a key de-risking step for its solvent-free process.

Sep 10, 2026

Kuniko chases depth in growing NSW gold-silver system

Promising visuals from Kuniko Limited’s latest drilling have expanded its Silica Hill prospect in NSW, potentially stretching the mineralisation an extra 100m at depth.

Sep 10, 2026

New 3km Cowza look-alike fires up Gateway WA gold hunt

Gateway Mining has defined a new 3km gold target at its Yandal project, a dead ringer for its Cowza discovery. With over $60m in cash, drilling starts next month.

Sep 10, 2026

Trump’s ‘top bond salesman’ is getting a reality check

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has a strategy for capping US bond yields. It’s not working.

Sep 10, 2026

English Premier League remains on Stan in $800m rights deal

Nine’s streaming service has extended its deal with the English Premier League to continue broadcasting the world’s most popular sports competition until 2034.

Sep 10, 2026

Ever feel like you’re being watched at work? You probably are

Employers are increasingly using some form of monitoring of their workers’ performance.

Sep 10, 2026

Sacked journalist Mahmood Fazal drops Fair Work case against the ABC

Fazal, who worked for the public broadcaster’s flagship investigative program Four Corners, was sacked in May after a lengthy leave of absence.

Sep 9, 2026

Australian cars stolen for parts to sell to Iran and Russia, insurers say

With Melbourne the epicentre of car theft in Australia, insurers believe stolen vehicles are being dismantled for parts and sold in sanctioned Iran and Russia.

Sep 9, 2026

ASX dips as oil hovers near $US100; Austal jumps on $1.9b bid

Rising oil prices have worsened worries about the high inflation weighing on consumers and companies with the Reserve Bank under increasing pressure to raise rates.

Sep 9, 2026

‘The sites are ready’: Power giant wants AI data centres built at its coal plants

The owner of the Yallourn power station in Victoria and the Mt Piper plant in NSW says retiring coal sites are the perfect fit for new data centres.

Sep 9, 2026

Flagship ups copper stakes in Canada as red metal soars

Record copper prices, Canadian mining reforms and heavyweight neighbours have put Flagship Minerals’ billion-tonne-scale Whipsaw project in the spotlight.

Sep 9, 2026

Patriot locks up five-year access for massive Peruvian silver hunt

Patriot Resources has secured a 5yr community deal in Peru to greenlight drilling at its Tassa silver project, host to a huge 559 to 774Moz silver-equivalent exploration target.

Sep 9, 2026

Auric adds 102koz shovel-ready gold kicker to WA Coolgardie ambitions

Auric Mining has snapped up its Union Jack gold project near Coolgardie, WA, in a cash-and-scrip deal to bolt on an extra 102,000 ounces of shovel-ready resources, just a stone’s throw from its Burbanks mill.

Sep 9, 2026

Golden Dragon breathes fire with high-grade WA gold hits

Golden Dragon has struck high-grade gold at its WA Behring Bore. A new lode landed 4m at 6.98g/t gold, with re-assays from nearby Coodardy hitting up to 59.2g/t gold.

Sep 9, 2026

Forrestania inks gold purchase pacts for WA production hubs

Forrestania Resources has locked in a major ore purchase agreement and key supply deals for its Lake Johnston and Edna May gold hubs as it marches towards production in WA.

Sep 9, 2026

Gateway banks $45M to unleash monster WA gold drill-out

Gateway Mining has secured a huge $45m raise to fast-track drilling at its Yandal gold project in WA after a significant high-grade discovery at its emerging Cowza prospect.

Sep 9, 2026

As Trump’s Iran war drags on, we’re facing the next oil crunch

The US Navy has allowed some oil to transit the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, but not enough to stop oil prices rising.

Sep 9, 2026

‘Where’s Karl?’ Podcast falls silent as advertising deal ends

Karl Stefanovic’s followers have begun leaving comments on his social media accounts after his podcast did not upload any new content for more than two weeks.

Sep 8, 2026

Work ageism is not getting any better, so I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands

I reckon getting older in the workforce is actually about noticing gaps and filling them before anyone gives you permission to.

Sep 8, 2026

‘Ferris Bueller gone bad’: The 22-year-old who went on a spending spree after stealing $339 million

Malone Lam pleaded guilty to teaming up with friends to steal bitcoin before using the proceeds to buy a fleet of sports cars, rent mansions in Miami and spend millions at nightclubs, including $US569,000 in one night in Los Angeles.

Sep 8, 2026

Fiji Airways to feed tourism boom through Western Sydney Airport

The airline will be the sixth carrier to commit to flying from the new airport. Across town, Sydney Airport will welcome EgyptAir in 2027.

Sep 8, 2026

It’s easy to blame politicians for our grumpiness. It’s also valid

We’re often angry, sceptical and pessimistic about how our nation is being run. But right now, the research suggests, we’re despairing.

Sep 8, 2026

The Taxman v Trump: ATO opens new front in fight with Big Tech

The ATO’s decision to seek billions in tax revenue from tech giants could further inflame tensions with Washington.

Sep 8, 2026

‘Nothing to retire on’: Fired Qantas workers get $35 million payout

Years after the airline illegally sacked them, workers received about $2000 for each full year of service. The payment marks the beginning of the end of a long and distressing saga.

Sep 8, 2026

Fighting the bully: Canada throws a punch back at Trump

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has shown he will not be pushed around by his neighbour. He is taking a big risk.

Sep 8, 2026

ASX slides as rising oil price fuels rate hike bets; Big four banks fall

The Australian sharemarket slumped to a six-week low on Tuesday, with investors bracing for higher interest rates as the Middle East conflict continues to push up fuel costs.

Sep 7, 2026

Minor change to title costs worker her job

The employee was fired after scrubbing the word “senior” from her job title in legal correspondence, showing the importance of a title.

Sep 7, 2026

What the price of gold tells us about Trump and the future

Gold has risen sharply due to the “Trump risk premium” and the Ukraine war.

Why some employers are paying extra for ‘human’ skills

More News

Mining stocks tumble to weigh down ASX; oil climbs to its highest mark since May

Cap Raise Crucible: Canaccord leads big mining dash for cash

Superannuation is too important for populism

‘I’m stoked’: Change of fortune for village pub as new owner vows to revive it

Fancy a Sydney ferry for $2.5m? Floating harbour restaurant for sale

Can someone ‘please explain’ One Nation’s messaging muddle?

Early access to super benefits one group. You’re probably not a part of it

When did we become so concerned about trivial things at work?

She lost her sight. Her Wall Street billionaire father bet on a daring new treatment

Miners and banks send ASX tumbling as oil prices, bond yields rise

Australia softens local gas supply rules, easing fears in Asia

Critical Resources battery tech holds firm in month-long test

Kuniko chases depth in growing NSW gold-silver system

New 3km Cowza look-alike fires up Gateway WA gold hunt

Trump’s ‘top bond salesman’ is getting a reality check

English Premier League remains on Stan in $800m rights deal

Ever feel like you’re being watched at work? You probably are

Sacked journalist Mahmood Fazal drops Fair Work case against the ABC

Australian cars stolen for parts to sell to Iran and Russia, insurers say

ASX dips as oil hovers near $US100; Austal jumps on $1.9b bid

‘The sites are ready’: Power giant wants AI data centres built at its coal plants

Flagship ups copper stakes in Canada as red metal soars

Patriot locks up five-year access for massive Peruvian silver hunt

Auric adds 102koz shovel-ready gold kicker to WA Coolgardie ambitions

Golden Dragon breathes fire with high-grade WA gold hits

Forrestania inks gold purchase pacts for WA production hubs

Gateway banks $45M to unleash monster WA gold drill-out

As Trump’s Iran war drags on, we’re facing the next oil crunch

‘Where’s Karl?’ Podcast falls silent as advertising deal ends

Work ageism is not getting any better, so I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands

‘Ferris Bueller gone bad’: The 22-year-old who went on a spending spree after stealing $339 million

Fiji Airways to feed tourism boom through Western Sydney Airport

It’s easy to blame politicians for our grumpiness. It’s also valid

The Taxman v Trump: ATO opens new front in fight with Big Tech

‘Nothing to retire on’: Fired Qantas workers get $35 million payout

Fighting the bully: Canada throws a punch back at Trump

ASX slides as rising oil price fuels rate hike bets; Big four banks fall

Minor change to title costs worker her job

What the price of gold tells us about Trump and the future

Recommended

Tears, sex toys and slurs: A month on the Kyle Sandilands show