I recently spent time with the 2025 World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report.
There are many data points and charts throughout the report that it would be interesting to dive into and write more about. However, I was drawn to the two shown below comparing the Core skills in 2025 and the Fastest growing skills by 2030.
My Headlines
I was not surprised of the three technology skills topping the fastest growing list. We know they are growing and a key part of our future. Most knowledge workers will need to lean in and learn more in these spaces. Not everyone will need expertise, but we will need baseline understanding. However, the fact that two of the three are completely missing from the core skills in 2025 was interesting – especially the AI and big data.
What surprised me on the Core Skills in 2025 was that half of the list was cognitive and self-efficacy skills. These are internal process and approach skills – how we do our work, how we think, and how we adapt to change. These are tricky to teach and assess when someone has “achieved” the skill.
Training in these areas is different and often very personalized. In addition, there are workplace structures that can hold teams back in these areas. Just a few examples include:
- Creative thinking requires “space” that meeting overload and overflowing inboxes often don’t allow in the typical workday.
- Creative and analytical thinking are core skills not skill just assigned to departments that carry those names.
- Curiosity and learning needs nourished and encouraged outside of current discipline.
The final item on the list was another one I didn’t expect – service orientation and customer service. Customer experience design has become more important in recent years, but when I read this here, I see something different.
I believe we will see a shift to higher importance on internal customer service. Understanding who our customers are within our company. Considering questions like:
How do the internal systems and processes that tie us together?
How can we treat our internal customers with great customer service?
Your Turn
What ideas do these charts inspire?
Were you surprised by any of the items on either list?
Which areas does your organization need to focus on the most?