Soft skills for workforce readiness in the healthcare sector: A qualitative analysis of employer interviews using generative AI

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare organizations, soft skills remain essential because healthcare work depends not only on technical expertise, but also on patient-centered communication, empathy, ethical judgment, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This study examines the soft skills needed for workforce readiness among recent graduates entering three healthcare domains: business administration/management, information technology, and healthcare service providers. Investigating through the lens of Open Systems Theory and Actor-Network Theory, the study employed a qualitative design based on semi-structured interviews with 21 healthcare employers. Interview data were analyzed through thematic analysis using a human-in-the-loop process in which ChatGPT supported selected stages of coding and categorization, while interpretive decisions remained with the researchers. The findings identify communication, empathy and emotional intelligence, teamwork and collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving, and adaptability and leadership as the most essential soft skills across the three domains. Employers also reported persistent gaps among recent graduates in these domains, particularly in interpersonal communication, self-awareness, real-world problem solving, and workplace readiness. The study underscores the continued importance of human-centered capabilities in an AI-enabled healthcare environment and highlights the need for stronger collaboration between educators and employers to prepare workforce-ready graduates.