Top 10 business skills employers are looking for in 2025
In 2025, business success will be determined by how effectively you can leverage skills that drive innovation. Adoption of digital technologies, particularly AI, big data and cloud computing will play a pivotal role in business transformation and those who can embrace and adapt to these advancements will achieve positive outcomes.
According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2023, 50% of all employees will need reskilling as adoption of technology increases and 23% of jobs will either be new or in decline. In 2022, the proportion of tasks completed by machines vs humans was 34% to 66% and in 2027, it will be 43% to 57%.
As much as digital technology and machines can help us work more efficiently, they have their limitations and human-centric skills are still valued by employers. Whether you’re a graduate, have worked for a few years or an executive, there are many skills you can develop to ensure you stay relevant for the jobs of tomorrow. We’ve listed the top 10 business skills that will be in high demand in 2025.
1. AI Literacy
AI has become a part of our daily work and personal lives. More and more businesses are integrating AI technology into their operations due to benefits such as the automation of repetitive tasks, better customer engagement, faster content creation and quick analysis of big data.
In today’s job market, to advance your career, you can no longer just be computer literate, you need to be AI literate. The good news is that you’ve probably been using AI throughout your daily life (e.g. Google maps, online shopping) so you already have a basic foundation.
It’s important to understand the benefits and limitations of different forms of AI (e.g. automation, generative and machine-learning) so that you can select the right AI models relevant for your work. AI is a powerful tool but has limitations and human-centric skills such as creativity and collaboration remain essential.
To improve your AI skills, you can study AI short courses, stay updated on industry trends, attend AI events, network on social media, or your company may already be using AI tools that you can be trained on.
Learn more about how AI is changing the way we work.
2. Digital transformation
The world is changing every day. There are new demands, trends and challenges, and businesses must change with them. When the global pandemic hit, digital collaboration tools quickly became essential for remote work and remain essential today as many companies continue with hybrid work arrangements. Conferencing software (e.g. Zoom, Microsoft Teams), project management software (e.g. Asana and Trello) and cloud-based tools (e.g. Google Workspace) are still widely used across the globe.
Technology lies at the centre of innovation and growth across many industries and individuals who can nurture a culture of innovation and help organisations navigate a digital transformation will be in high demand.
Keep updated with technological trends and advancements or study short courses to determine which tools are most relevant and useful to your company and which is too risky to adopt. You may find ways to improve the efficiency and productivity of specific parts of your work. Perhaps certain processes can be automated or that your team could benefit from using cloud-based tools.
3. Lifelong learning
In a digitally connected world, change is happening at a fast rate and we need to learn new things more quickly and throughout our career.
According to WEF’s Future of Jobs 2023 Survey, in the next 5 years, 44% of workers’ core skills are expected to change, 69 million jobs will be created driven by new technologies and the pursuit of sustainability, and 83 million jobs will be put at risk by economic pressures and automation. This means that in the next 5 years, up to 25% of jobs will be disrupted.
Governments, businesses and leaders who can drive a culture of lifelong learning will address any employee skill gaps and ensure their organisation remains competitive in an ever-changing world.
You will need to continue to learn throughout your career to ensure you are equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills required by industry. You can study relevant courses and certifications, keep yourself updated with industry trends and network with industry professionals.
4. Emotional intelligence
According to the WEF, out of 34 essential workplace skills, emotional intelligence (EI) is the strongest predictor of performance, accounting for 58% of success.
As machines take over routine and administrative tasks, honest human connection will become vitally important. As the workplace becomes more connected, you need to be able see things from other people’s perspectives, be open to feedback and resolve any conflict. This will help you inspire and build trust with your colleagues.
Being able to manage emotions – yours and others - will be essential for communication, collaboration and productivity. Mentoring and coaching, managing stress and the capacity to build long lasting client relationships will be invaluable.
Warren G. Bennis, Organisational Consultant and Author
“Emotional intelligence, more than any other factor, more than I.Q. or expertise, accounts for 85% to 90% of success at work...I.Q. is a threshold competence. You need it, but it doesn’t make you a star. Emotional intelligence can.”
5. Analytical thinking
People who are not afraid of challenges and can resolve them quickly will be in high demand. Analytical thinking means examining a problem by breaking down complex information and analysing each part to form a conclusion or develop solutions.
You need to look at all the facts and apply your own logic and reasoning. Analytical thinking is helpful in finding the cause and effect or making connections (e.g. analysing sales data to find the source of top revenue sales).
Learn more about why analytical thinking is in great demand and how to develop your analytical skills.
6. Creativity
Creativity doesn’t just mean being artistic. It also includes the ability to think innovatively, solve complex problems and generate ideas that are ‘out of the box’.
Even in a digital world, creativity remains a human-centric skill that is difficult to automate. For example, Generative AI can create copy and designs through the prompts you provide, but being able to adapt that to your business strategy and tone of voice and inspire a following is not something a machine can do.
To improve your creativity skills, learn new skills, immerse yourself in new experiences, read books that challenge your perspective and engage in brainstorming sessions at school or work. Always be curious, ask questions and explore multiple solutions.
7. Leadership and social influence
In our daily work we connect and collaborate with our team, clients and other stakeholders. Having leadership skills or social influence means being able to inspire and influence others to achieve the same objective. The ability to bring departments together, navigate cultural and generational differences, build networks and strong relationships with stakeholders and the ability to influence big decisions will be highly valued by employers.
Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physicist
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change”
Change will always happen. There will be economic shifts, new competitors and new customer demands. If you can stay calm and make rational decisions under pressure, easily transition between roles, learn new technologies quickly, find opportunities and maintain productivity even in times of uncertainty or disruption, you will be an employee in demand. Employers value adaptability and resilience because these skills drive innovation and contribute to a positive work culture of continuous learning.
Learn more about developing adaptability skills.
9. Critical thinking
In today’s interconnected world, you will be exposed to a lot of different information. Employers will be looking for people who they can trust to make the right judgments on how to move forward. This means you can filter and evaluate different sources of information (e.g. data, research, social media posts) to form a reasoned opinion and a list of effective solutions.
Critical thinking is essential in situations such as improving work processes, risk assessment, interpreting data and hiring the right talent. You need to be self-aware and open-minded, listen to other people’s perspectives, conduct research, explore biases and always ask questions.
10. Complex problem-solving
The skill of complex problem-solving means you can solve challenges that others cannot solve. Employers are looking for people who are not afraid of problems but know how to leverage resources (such as data analysis and research) to try new ideas or take calculated risks.
Even though AI is evolving and can give answers to a wide range of challenges, ‘big picture’ or strategic thinking remains a human-centric skill. AI is only as good as the data we feed it, and human beings have a greater capacity to be creative, collaborate and resolve challenges. Your ability to leverage the capabilities of AI, seek relevant sources of information and to develop innovative solutions in line with business goals will help you remain competitive.
Learn how to improve your problem-solving skills.
Interested in more career advice? Read our Business Career Guide. Learn how our Career Central team can help you advance your career.
