The difference between durable skills and perishable skills comes down to longevity and adaptability in a changing world of work.
Perishable skills are those that lose relevance as technology evolves or industries shift, such as technical proficiencies, software expertise, or procedural know-how that can quickly become outdated. They’re essential for getting the job done today, but they don’t necessarily prepare someone for the challenges of tomorrow.
In contrast, durable skills like problem-solving, adaptability, communication, and decision-making endure across roles, industries, and even economic cycles. They form the foundation of long-term performance because they are tied to how people think, relate, and lead, not to the tools they use.
As automation reshapes roles and technical skills become obsolete faster than ever, durable skills data reveals which human capabilities endure.
The Plum Profile is a psychometrically validated assessment that quantifies individuals’ durable, or soft, skills and behavioral drivers. It provides standardized data on how people naturally think and work, enabling predictive modeling of job performance, role alignment, and career satisfaction. The resulting data are scientifically grounded, bias-audited, and designed for both individual development and organizational decision-making.
This data helps employers identify which durable skills drive performance and resilience in their workforce and how those strengths differ across job functions and geography.
See methodology for this research below-Caitlin MacGregor | CEO of Plum
This table highlights the most prevalent durable skills in 12 major North American cities, revealing how regional workforces compare in their strengths across leadership, collaboration, and communication. It offers a snapshot of which talents define success in each urban market. Cities are sorted by the top durable skills/talents from the 12 listed.
| City | Country | Top Talent | Second Talent | Third Talent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | USA |
 Persuasion
|
 Embracing Diversity
|
 Conflict Resolution
|
| Dallas, TX | USA |
Persuasion
|
 Managing Others
|
 Decision Making
|
| Philadelphia, PA | USA |
Persuasion
|
Conflict Resolution
|
Managing Others
|
| Houston, TX | USA |
Persuasion
|
Managing Others
|
Decision Making
|
| Boston, MA | USA |
Persuasion
|
Managing Others
|
 Communication
|
| Atlanta, GA | USA |
Persuasion
|
Managing Others
|
Communication
|
| Los Angeles, CA | USA |
Conflict Resolution
|
Persuasion
|
Embracing Diversity
|
| Toronto, ON | Canada |
Conflict Resolution
|
Persuasion
|
Communication
|
| San Francisco, CA | USA |
Conflict Resolution
|
Communication
|
Embracing Diversity
|
| Montreal, QC | Canada |
Conflict Resolution
|
Persuasion
|
Managing Others
|
| Chicago, IL | USA |
Communication
|
Embracing Diversity
|
Conflict Resolution
|
| Washington, DC | USA |
Communication
|
Managing Others
|
Persuasion
|
Every region across North America shows a unique mix of human strengths shaped by its industries, culture, and community values. From persuasion and leadership in major business hubs to communication and teamwork in collaborative cities, the distribution of durable skills reflects how people think, connect, and work together. These regional patterns reveal more than workforce preferences; they tell the story of how talent evolves alongside local economies, innovation clusters, and shared cultural identity.
The following insights highlight how durable skills cluster by region and drive lasting success.
Clarity and credibility are the currency of success in New England. From Portland to Boston and Hartford, communication and persuasion dominate a region defined by world-class universities, hospitals, and technology hubs. Professionals here value articulate thinking, collaborative problem solving, and leadership that pairs intellect with empathy. It is a culture where thoughtful conversation drives innovation.
The Mid-Atlantic corridor, stretching from New York to Washington, D.C., runs on dialogue, diplomacy, and diversity. Persuasion stands out in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, while D.C. showcases strong communication and leadership. This is a region powered by policy, media, and multicultural collaboration, where influence and understanding are as vital as expertise.
Across the Southeast, from Atlanta to Charleston and Frankfort, people lead through connection. Teamwork and managing others are defining strengths, highlighting a deep commitment to mentorship, community, and collaboration. The region’s leaders blend warmth with persuasion, creating a culture of trust that turns relationships into results.
In the Midwest, innovation meets pragmatism. Cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, and Green Bay balance big ideas with execution, valuing communication and steady collaboration. The region’s industries depend on adaptability and teamwork, making conflict resolution as essential as the innovation that keeps the heartland moving forward.community, reflecting the pioneering mindset that continues to shape the modern West.
In Dallas, Houston, and Austin, durable skills reflect entrepreneurial drive and decisive leadership. Persuasion and decision making rise to the top, showcasing a culture that values initiative, independence, and confidence. These are cities of growth and grit, where influence and action go hand in hand.
On the West Coast, creativity meets connection. Cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland emphasize empathy, collaboration, and cross-cultural understanding. Communication and conflict resolution define professional life, supported by a deep appreciation for diversity that fuels the region’s global perspective and innovative spirit.
Across Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, durable skills reflect Canada’s hallmark diplomacy and balance. Conflict resolution and persuasion stand out, reinforced by strong communication. Canadians approach collaboration with thoughtfulness and respect, fostering workplaces built on trust, dialogue, and shared success.
From Denver to Salt Lake City, the Mountain West blends independence with cooperation. Innovation and communication define the region’s forward-looking spirit, while teamwork grounds its progress. Professionals here combine self-reliance with a genuine sense of community, reflecting the pioneering mindset that continues to shape the modern West.
To uncover the top durable skills across North America, Plum analyzed data from job applicants who completed its 42-question assessment. The assessment measures three core areas proven to predict workplace success: problem-solving ability, behavioral preferences, and work-related social judgment.
To measure problem-solving ability, Plum uses Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM) questions where participants are asked to deduce the next likely image from a set of images, measuring non-verbal fluid intelligence. For behavioral and situational judgment questions, Plum employs a forced-choice (ipsative) method, where participants select between equally appealing statements, ensuring authentic results that reveal how people naturally prefer to work and spend their energy.
Results are scored against Plum’s 10 durable skills model, known as the Plum Talent Model. Each Talent combines a set of underlying competencies (36 in all) that are scored based on how people respond to the assessment’s cognitive, behavioral, and situational questions.
To identify the top Talents in each city, Plum averaged scores across participants based on their self-reported home locations, ranking the three most prevalent durable skills in each city.
For media inquiries, contact kate@devonpr.com
For research inquiries, contact research@plum.io