Supporting the Development of Apprentices' Soft Skills is Essential for the Future of our Economy

The Effects of Stress on Apprentices

The September 2021 report of Promotion Santé Suisse (Health Promotion Switzerland) Jeunes personnes actives – conditions de travail et santé (Young working people - working conditions and health) highlights the specific pressures apprentices are exposed to as they enter the professional world. Data reveal that young working people, particularly apprentices, are exposed to higher levels of psychological stress, emotional exhaustion and depression than older workers.

The pressure to balance professional and personal responsibilities can lead to impaired concentration, conflicts at work and difficulty in relaxing outside work. Indeed, Promotion Santé Suisse’s Job Stress Index has shown since these studies began in 2014 that young people aged 16 to 24 are among the most stressed, with a potentially negative effect on their health and productivity. Between 30% and 40% of them find themselves overloaded to the point where negative effects on their health and health-related productivity losses are to be expected.

Complementing Technical Training with Soft Skills Training

Faced with the demands of their new professional lives, young working people, including apprentices, are confronted with personal resource deficits. Compared to other age groups, they have "fewer skills, such as a sense of self-efficacy and coping abilities, which are particularly relevant to stress management and psychological health", according to Promotion Santé Suisse. This makes them more vulnerable to the pressures of the professional world and to psychological challenges.

The figures underline the urgent need to provide young working people with tools to manage stress and maintain a healthy balance between their professional and personal responsibilities, and to support them in developing soft skills. Although apprentices may be technically trained in their field, skills such as stress management, developing self-confidence and regulating emotions are often left untouched in their educational curriculum, which focuses primarily on acquiring technical expertise related to their field of activity and knowledge of general economic and social culture. This deficiency can compromise their psychological well-being and long-term professional success, just as it can harm companies.

Indeed, the deteriorating mental health of young workers has a direct impact on business productivity. Health problems and constraints in work and personal life can lead to absenteeism and presenteeism (attendance with limited capacity). According to Promotion Santé Suisse, the 16-24 age group has the highest health-related productivity losses. Against this backdrop, it is becoming imperative for companies to put in place measures to help young workers develop stress management and emotion regulation skills.

Sophrology as Effective Support During Apprenticeship

By equipping apprentices with relaxation, positive thinking and stress management techniques, sophrology is a relevant method for helping them develop the soft skills necessary for personal and professional fulfillment. It can help apprentices to cope better with pressure, boost their self-confidence, develop concentration, adaptation and autonomy abilities and a positive attitude to everyday life and support them in periods of exam preparation, for example.

The quick and easy techniques not only provide a welcome relaxation break, but also enable apprentices to develop mental resilience in the face of the challenges of their professional and personal lives.

It is essential that companies and educational institutions recognize the importance of these psychosocial skills. With 209,000 apprentices in Switzerland in 2022 according to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, it is essential to support them holistically for the future of our economy. By introducing sophrology sessions into apprenticeship programs, apprentices could acquire valuable tools for their development. This would help to create a healthier working environment, preserve their mental health and optimize their performance within companies.

By supporting apprentices' psychological well-being from the very start of their careers, organizations and professional training bodies can foster their long-term success and help create a generation of balanced, resilient employees ready to face tomorrow's challenges.