It’s more important than ever to stay up to date with the skills that employers are looking for in a world that is changing constantly. This blog serves as a resource for institutions, outlining the essential skills and qualifications that are reshaping the employment landscape. This year’s focus is on leadership, cybersecurity, and data visualisation—three fields that are in high demand and have seen a notable upsurge.
Leadership Skills
This year, all leadership skills have risen in importance, especially those that centre on strategic leadership, employee development, and empathy. Emerging technologies like AI and quickly shifting macroeconomic conditions are placing new demands on leadership, forcing learning leaders to put more emphasis on developing abilities like empathy-based team leadership, team building, and team management.
Cybersecurity Skills
Skills in information security and cybersecurity are in high demand. Cybersecurity skills make up half of the top tech talents listed. Simultaneously, there is a projected shortage of around 3.5 million cybersecurity professionals who can invest in acquiring cybersecurity skills that will help individuals and organisations in the coming year.
Business Skills
The fastest-growing skills list is dominated by business skills, especially in the areas of digital marketing and customer experience. With the marketing and advertising sector expected to develop and customer demands rising, institutions can invest in these skill areas to boost individual employability and corporate efficiency.
Data Visualisation
Last year, data visualisation was the digital skill that grew the fastest, and in 2024, this trend is expected to persist. By 2025, 70% of workers will be expected to utilise data extensively, according to research, yet only 11% of workers are confident in their capacity to read, analyse, work with, and communicate with data. To meet market demand and accomplish organisational goals, institutional leaders should place a high priority on investing in skills linked to data literacy and storytelling.
Web Development and Computing Skills
Web development and computer skills are still in high demand. Web frameworks and cloud computing skills comprise a few of the tech skills that are expanding at the quickest rate. It is anticipated that the market for cloud computing will grow rapidly, reaching $591.8 billion in 2023 from $490.3 billion in 2022. In the meantime, 73% of workers worldwide claim they do not feel prepared to acquire the digital skills that companies now require. The requirement for technical workers to stay up to date with evolving technology and the persistent skill deficit can both be addressed by investments in these skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are hard skills?
Technical or hard skills are acquired through education or practical practice. These are quantifiable, tangible skills that are frequently job-specific. Hard skill demonstration is possible with the use of necessary credentials, completed projects, skill assessment tests, and portfolios.
2. What is planning skill?
Planning skills are qualities that immediately influence your productivity, accuracy, and efficiency at work. Planning skills can be used, for instance, to schedule each project job according to deadlines and workload.