Soft skills are estimated to contribute about £88 billion to the United Kingdom’s economy; that figure is expected to increase another £109 billion over the next five years. However, many U.K. workers struggle to stay competitive in this area. It is estimated that by 2020 more than half a million individuals will be significantly held back in their careers due to a lack of soft skills. According to new research, 97 percent of employers say they believe soft skills were important to their current success, and more than half said skills including communication and teamwork were more important than academic standings. Three-quarters, however, believe there is a soft skills shortage in the U.K. workforce, particularly in the hospitality, food service, retail, and healthcare fields. Research also shows employees who do possess soft skills often have difficulty showcasing them for potential employers. One in five employees say they do not feel confident describing their soft skills during an interview, and more than half have never put their soft skills on a resume.