The World Economic Forum in its report dubbed Future of Jobs Report 2025 has revealed the top ten skills required in the global workforce in the next five years.
According to the report, employer expectations for the evolution of skills over by 2030, predict that technological skills will grow in importance more rapidly than any other type of skill.
Among these, AI and big data top the list as the fastest-growing skills, followed closely by networks and cybersecurity and technological literacy.
Complementing these technological skills, creative thinking and two socio-emotional attitudes – resilience, flexibility, and agility, along with curiosity and lifelong learning – are also seen as rising in importance.
Top 10 High-Demand Skills for the Global Workforce
Also ranking among the top 10 skills on the rise are leadership and social influence, talent management, analytical thinking, and environmental stewardship.
These skills highlight the need for workers who can lead teams, manage talent effectively and adapt to sustainability and green transitions in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Additionally, these emerging skills represent areas where businesses may need to anticipate growing demands and develop capabilities before they become critical.
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Skills in Demand Across Key Industries
Artificial intelligence (AI) and big data are leading in industries such as automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, and professional services.
Other sectors include IT services, healthcare, financial services, energy, and government.
Networks and cybersecurity are critical in industries such as financial services, energy, and healthcare.
Additional key sectors include automotive, government, supply chain telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing.
Technological literacy is increasingly essential in industries like automotive, financial services, and healthcare.
More sectors emphasizing this skill include education, oil and gas, professional services, and advanced manufacturing.
Creative thinking is increasingly in demand across various industries, with top sectors including insurance and pensions management, education and training, and medical and healthcare services.
It is also essential in advanced manufacturing, telecommunications, information and technology services, real estate, professional services, supply chain and transportation, and the production of consumer goods.
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Industries Driving the Demand for Increasing Skill Requirements
Resilience, flexibility, and agility are critical skills in a range of industries, with agriculture, forestry, and fishing leading the demand, followed by telecommunications and information technology services.
Other sectors prioritizing these traits include the production of consumer goods, insurance and pensions management, and automotive and aerospace.
Additionally, the skill is required in advanced manufacturing, retail and wholesale of consumer goods, financial services and capital markets, and electronics.
Curiosity and lifelong learning are in high demand across various industries, with education and training topping the list.
Further sectors emphasizing curiosity and lifelong learning include insurance and pensions management, telecommunications, real estate, information and technology services, automotive and aerospace, and energy technology and utilities.
Other industries in demand of these traits are retail and wholesale of consumer goods, oil and gas, and medical and healthcare services.
At the other end of the spectrum, respondents identified sensory-processing abilities; reading, writing and mathematics; dependability and attention to detail; quality control; and global citizenship as among the most stable skills.
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