Critical Thinking Skills on the Labour Markets—Comparative Analysis of Online Job Postings in Italy and Poland

This research provides new insights into the companies’ approach to critical thinking skills as a required competence in online recruitment in Poland and Italy. The study presents a four-folded contribution based on the empirical analysis of job postings at the two leading recruitment portals in Italy and Poland. First, the study shows that critical thinking skills are seldom considered a prerequisite for job applications. Second, the study illustrates an initial indication that the frequency of critical thinking skills occurrences included in job postings may increase with the seniority and complexity of job openings. Third, critical thinking skills are often considered by employers as a part of a complex competence bundle which tends to include also: analytical skills, problem-solving skills, decision-making skills, creativity, and attention to details. Fourth, this research demonstrates that the companies’ approach to critical thinking skills as a recruitment requirement is largely consistent in Italian and Polish labour markets. Based on the findings, future studies can imply a correlation between a company’s effectiveness and an employee’s level of critical skills.