Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Key Takeaways Avoidance might protect short-term performance, but it quietly erodes trust, engagement and long-term results. Empathy isn’t a soft skill — it’s a strategic advantage that builds stronger, more resilient teams. As I write this article, here is the reality: according to a recent Conference Board survey, the share of consumers who viewed jobs as “hard to get” increased to a five-year high in February 2026, though households also believed the availability of jobs had improved. Labor market data shows that the median duration of unemployment is near four-year highs, and jobs remain scarce for young college graduates. Unemployed recent college graduates do not show up in the claims data because they have limited or no work history, making them ineligible to file for jobless benefits.…