America's inflexible academic achievement gap has long been a national priority. Although closing this gap remains a national priority, Wolk (2011) noted that after “30 years of unprecedented effort and enormous expenditure,” student achievement has not improved; a third of graduates are not yet prepared for work (p. #). For institutions to close the achievement gap, curriculum experts must reconsider their educational practices, particularly the content of what is taught. America's academic achievement gap isn't just due to a lack of college programs; it also includes students who lack the soft skills and experiences necessary to succeed outside of the classroom (Strong American Schools, 2008). Therefore, more and more higher education institutions are adding a soft skills component to their existing curriculum. According to Christopher (2012) “until recently, little attention and importance has been given to soft skills” (p. 52). In fact, it is difficult to quantify soft skills. But more and more colleges, universities and employers are realizing that while an individual's technical, academic and scientific skills will advance them quickly, it is their lack of soft skills that can derail their advancement. In the 21st century global economy, new challenges related to job security and employability are evident. For students, the knowledge that they simply possess technical knowledge is no longer a guarantee of a successful career or future. In the article by Andrews and Higson (2008) their studies were aimed at conceptualizing and identifying the main individual skills and competencies required by employers of graduates and to find out whether higher education programs meet the needs... half of the paper ......te employability and also suggests that the teaching of soft skills should be an integral part of the university curriculum (Fallows e & Stevens, 2000; et al., 2004). It would appear that in order to promote graduate employability in an increasingly competitive global environment, colleges and universities must develop programs in which students are strongly encouraged to actively acquire and hone the soft skills necessary for success. The findings of these studies support the questions raised in this literature review, as well as other studies, cite work experience and the ability to learn and use softer skills are vital to the personal and professional development and employability of students and graduates. It is critical that students include soft skills in their approach to learning technical skills in preparation for the world of work.