Latest Trend: Most Sought-After Skills in 2025
Preparing for the Future Workforce: In-Demand Skills by 2025
As we move towards 2025, the world of work is set to undergo significant changes, with technology, the green economy, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic shaping the skills required for success. Here's a look at the most in-demand skills expected to be crucial for the workforce in the coming years.
- Data Literacy and Analytics: With the ability to interpret and analyze vast amounts of data becoming increasingly important, data literacy and analytics skills will be essential across industries.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): As AI's role expands in healthcare, finance, logistics, and other sectors, skills in AI, including neural networks, natural language processing, and proficiency with tools like Python and TensorFlow, will be critical.
- Digital Fluency and Technology Aptitude: Adaptability to evolving technologies, including cloud computing, cybersecurity, and software development, is crucial in today's rapidly changing digital landscape.
- Green Economy and Sustainability Expertise: Knowledge and skills related to renewable energy, sustainability practices, and environmental impact analysis are increasingly vital due to climate goals and green transitions.
- Human or Soft Skills: In a highly automated world, critical thinking, creativity, communication, and empathy become key differentiators, complementing technical skills by enabling storytelling with data and fostering collaboration.
- Cybersecurity: Protecting data and infrastructure amid rising digital threats is a growing priority, with information security becoming a highly sought-after skill.
- Adaptability and Lifelong Learning: The ability to continuously learn and pivot across roles and technologies is emphasized for career resilience in the face of technological advancements.
These skills derive from interconnected forces: COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation and remote work, the green economy transition demands new sustainability know-how, and ongoing technological advances require both technical mastery and human skills to remain competitive in the future workforce.
In addition to the above, various new roles will be in demand due to the need for disruptive technology skills, such as business development, digital marketing & strategy, digital transformation, and process automation. Furthermore, roles in cloud computing, big data science, software and application development (including UX/UI and blockchain programming), and information security will also be highly sought-after.
Interestingly, the World Economic Forum's Jobs Reset Summit suggests that automation will displace around 85 million jobs, primarily manual and repetitive roles such as assembly factory workers and accountants. However, this shift also presents opportunities for workers who combine technical expertise in data, AI, and green technologies with strong human-centered skills and flexibility to thrive in the future workforce.
As businesses scale remote work, digitalize, and automate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CFOs are prioritizing upskilling current employees, in addition to attracting new talent, to address the talent and skills gap affecting various industries, including manufacturing, supply chain, and accounting. A universal appetite for mass upskilling was revealed in the 2021 Resetting Normal research, with 69% asking for additional digital training.
In summary, workers who combine technical expertise in data, AI, and green technologies with strong human-centered skills and flexibility will be best positioned for success in 2025 and beyond. The future of work is here, and it's time to upskill and adapt to thrive.
- To maintain a competitive edge in the future workforce, employees need to focus on upskilling, particularly in digital transformation, such as data literacy, digital fluency, and technology aptitude.
- As the green economy becomes more prominent, skills in renewable energy, sustainability, and environmental impact analysis will be essential for career development.
- In the realm of finance, cybersecurity skills have become increasingly vital due to the mounting need for data protection and infrastructure security.
- Personal growth and career development in the digital transformation field may require skills training in areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing.
- Education and self-development should encompass not only technical skills but also the development of human skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and empathy for career success in the future workforce.
