The third "Every Child, Every Promise" research brief focuses on the large percentage of the children and youth who will enter the workforce over the next two decades are lacking enough of the "soft" or applied skills--such as teamwork, decision-making, and communication--that will help them become effective employees and managers. The report concludes that schools, communities and corporations cannot afford to focus solely on academic outcomes. Applied skills are essential to personal economic success and to the success of corporate America, and, by extension, to the future well-being of all Americans. Increasing youth involvement in real-world experiences, whether through internships, paid employment or community service is an important first step. Similarly, schools need to engage their students in active learning and connect curricula to the modern workplace. (Contains 7 notes.) [For the second "Every Child, Every Promise" issue brief, see ED505367.]