New research proves what teachers have been saying all along: You never really know what you’re going to need.

According to labor market analytics firm Emsi, early career workers tend to move between fields in their first three jobs. Thus, it’s crucial that students learn to see “a clear line between their education and the working life for which it laid the foundation,” says Rob Sentz, the report’s co-author.

For example, “there is an enormous part of the economy hungry for graduates with skills in analysis and communication,” Sentz says — even in STEM and business fields. Many roles, especially higher-paying ones, require collaboration and critical thinking, which students practice in nearly every class.

So next time a teacher assigns a group project, don’t roll your eyes. Roll up your sleeves.