In-Demand Skill Sets for Today’s Workforce

As the business world enters a new digital reality dominated by AI, the skills needed in the workforce are changing. As a result, skills that were once nice to have or useful in special circumstances are in ever-higher demand.

Soft Skills Become Power Skills

In the past, enterprises considered roles in the context of “technical skills.” Recruiters looked at candidates in terms of what they know how to do—for example, computer programming, bookkeeping, or social media management. Though “non-technical skills” like communication and creative thinking—historically called “soft skills”—were often part of job postings, they were “nice to haves,” and the selection process didn’t focus strongly on determining a candidate’s level of mastery.

Here, on the threshold of the Age of AI, that focus is changing. Soft skills are turning into “power skills,” critical to success in the workplace. Recruiters and managers must find ways to screen for key power skills like creative thinking, emotional intelligence, and collaboration. In large part, this requires looking beyond the resume to live conversation with a candidate. Interview questions that ask about past examples or “how would you handle this?” scenarios can help get clearer insights into an individual’s power skillset.

Different Technology Skills Come to the Fore

Technology skills have been in the “in-demand” category for many years. The demand for certain skills, however, has greatly increased. In response to the maturation of AI in the workplace, for example, enterprises are strongly emphasizing data science skills along with AI and machine learning capabilities. Power skills also come into play here, as individuals who can translate AI analysis into “business speak” and those who can see opportunities for a business to make better use of the digital assistance that AI provides will be in increasingly high demand.

4 Skills in Increased Demand

These four skills are among those that have moved up the line in importance to enterprises.

Cybersecurity

As remote/hybrid work models become the status quo, the risk of digital security impairment increases. Talent with skills that can ensure cybersecurity across the enterprise are of very high value.

Data Reliability

Even before AI entered the arena, data volume in many industries has posed challenges. As more business sectors join the data tsunami, enterprises need people with the right skills to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness of data.

Data Analysis

Another high-value skill set in the data area involves the analysis of data. While AI will be involved in analysis with increasing frequency, people with skills to work with the AI to ensure the veracity of analysis will be in high demand.

Machine-to-Human Communication (and Vice-Versa)

There will be an increasing need for people who are able to translate data analytic outcomes into human language that is understandable to whoever needs to take action. Going the other direction, there is increasing demand for people with the skills to “talk” to machines and systems in ways that produce relevant, useful, and accurate results.