Skills for a working future. A model based on critical thinking in Vocational Training and Baccalaureate students

Industry 4.0 has significantly transformed society and the labour market, highlighting the importance of skills such as critical think- ing for professional success and personal development. This skill is crucial in personal, social, and professional areas. This research delves into the predictive potential of dispositions toward critical thinking in relation to the skills considered necessary for future labour scenarios, considering a cohort of students (n=2948) enrolled in Vocational Training or Baccalaureate in Andalusia, Spain. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for data analysis, using the lavaan 0.6-9 package in version 4.1.1 of R. The results reveal that critical thinking influences or has predictive capacity over variables associated with labour skills, such as cognitive and adaptability types, as well as collaboration and integration. This evidence supports the imperative integration of critical thinking activities into Vocational Training and Baccalaureate curricula. By fostering these skills, it will promote graduates to be adaptable and competent in the face of the evolution of the labour market due to their ability to think critically and solve complex problems.