Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data top the list of fastest-growing skills in the global job market today, followed closely by networks and cybersecurity as well as technology literacy. 

According to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Future of Jobs Survey, these techs related skills are projected to continue assuming a big importance across economies between 2025 and 2030.

"Half of employers plan to reorient their business in response to AI, two-thirds plan to hire talent with specific AI skills, while 40 percent anticipate reducing their workforce where AI can automate tasks," Future of Jobs Survey states in part.

It adds; "Conversely, manual dexterity, endurance and precision stand out with notable net declines in skills demand, with 24 percent of respondents foreseeing a decrease in their importance."

It adds that creative thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility, along with curiosity and lifelong learning will continue to compliment the employability of tech-skilled personnel.

At the same time, the report states that analytical thinking remains the most sought after core skill among employers, with seven out of 10 companies considering it as essential in 2025. 

Leadership and social influence

This is followed by resilience, flexibility and agility, along with leadership and social influence, Future of Jobs Survey adds.

In about five years from today, the study established that just over half of employers or 52 percent anticipate allocating a greater share of their revenue to wages, with only 8 percent expecting this share to decline. 

Wage strategies are driven primarily by goals of aligning wages with workers’ productivity and performance and competing for retaining talent and skills. 

During the period under foreacst, measures supporting employee health and well-being are expected to assume top priority for talent attraction, with 64 percent of employers surveyed identifying it as a key strategy to increase talent availability. 

"Effective reskilling and upskilling initiatives, along with improving talent progression and promotion, are also seen as holding high potential for talent attraction. Funding for - and provision of - reskilling and upskilling are seen as the two most welcomed public policies to boost talent availability."

The Future of Jobs Survey, which brings together the perspective of over 1,000 leading global employers—collectively representing more than 14 million workers across 22 industry clusters and 55 economies, also finds that adoption of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives remains on the rise. 

The potential for expanding talent availability by tapping into diverse talent pools is highlighted by four times more employers (47 per cent) than two years ago (10 percent).

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