Soft skills and digital practices in the business and education sectors

Introduction: Soft skills, proven to be relevant in business, acquire a renewed role in contemporary contexts of digitalization, where their application becomes necessary. Objective: To describe the perceived levels of soft skills and digital practices among workers in the business and educational sectors within the context of digital Ecuadorian economy. Methodology: A quantitative approach, with a non-experimental, descriptive design. The sample include 845 individuals from the economically active population, selected through convenience sampling: 305 from the educational sector, and 540 from the business sector. A Likert-type questionnaire with 27 items was used to analyze the variables. IBM SPSS software was employed, using frequencies, percentages, and box plots for analysis. Results: It was highlighted that more than 78% of the respondents reported high levels in skills such as communication, leadership, and adaptability. Additionally, nearly 83% demonstrated strengths in teamwork and empathy. Regarding the use of digital tools, higher levels were observed in perceptions of utility, and usage purpose. Discussion: A balanced relationship between soft skills and digital practices shows that workers from both sectors are sustainably adapting to the digital economy, which requires strengthening training that integrates both dimensions. Conclusions: The development of the digital economy in Ecuador depends on the strengthening of soft skills, and the implementation of technology; an interaction that improves employability, productivity, and sustainability