Are skills important for employment

My business teacher was telling us that skills are the most important thing employers look for when applying for a job when lots of people have the same qualifications as you. She said Duke of Edinburgh is the best choice to get skills you need and show to employers and uni when I grow up. But I don't choose to do that since I don't have enough spaces in my choices. Now I'm getting worried if I'm going to get in a good uni of get a good job even though I didn't choose that. (I play team sport, does that count as skills I can show off to uni and employers?)

Skills are important because it is the first gate to pass, but certainly not the most important. In short, they will see if you meet their basic skills (qualifications, academic etc) requirements. Once you get through, all other factors come in.
Personal qualities and character then come in. Interviews are mean to gauge whether you would fit in the organisation. For promotion skills are never considered, or weigh very very little.

Just to check, you're saying skills aren't needed when applying for promotion?

Yes and no. For some organisation they may have additional skills (qualifications) requirements, which is also the first passing gate. Once passed, candidates compete on personal qualities and characters.

My business teacher was telling us that skills are the most important thing employers look for when applying for a job when lots of people have the same qualifications as you. She said Duke of Edinburgh is the best choice to get skills you need and show to employers and uni when I grow up. But I don't choose to do that since I don't have enough spaces in my choices. Now I'm getting worried if I'm going to get in a good uni of get a good job even though I didn't choose that. (I play team sport, does that count as skills I can show off to uni and employers?)