Let’s take a closer look at the skills that matter most — or, at least, those that are considered the most important, as they are increasingly perceived as key across a growing number of professions.
The WEF study shows that the share of core skills expected to be at risk over the next five years rose from 35% in 2016 to 57% in 2020, before falling back to 39% in 2025, while still showing an overall upward trend.
Two things stand out here:
- the general trend, suggesting that skills are becoming obsolete at an increasingly rapid pace;
- the nature of the skills considered important.
“Resilience, flexibility and agility” has now made its way into the top five most important skills, while “curiosity and lifelong learning” have also become essential.
Technology is creating greater demand for complementary technical skills (AI, cybersecurity, etc.), while also increasing the importance of the soft skills needed to adapt quickly and collaborate effectively with machines.
Among the skills declining in importance are manual skills, but also those considered easier to replace, such as reading, writing, attention to detail and quality control. Does this mean that these skills were previously used only for their own sake, rather than as part of broader professional practices?
The apparent decline of certain skills does not mean that they are disappearing, but rather that they are being transformed. Attention to detail, far from becoming obsolete, is now embedded in complex supervision and management processes in which humans continue to play an irreplaceable role.
The evolution of training mirrors the evolution of skills requirements: it is becoming ubiquitous, richer and increasingly short-lived. Just as some essential skills are becoming embedded within broader processes, training is no longer always a standalone activity, but an increasingly common component of new ways of working.
