Employers Value AI Skills More Than Teamwork and Time Management
- What it means to be workplace-ready now is very different to what it meant five years ago – and employers value different skills
- AI and tech are rapidly on the rise, and these skills are highly in demand, finds a new survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
- Meanwhile, the need for traditional skills like time management and teamwork is declining
There is currently a disconnect between the skills graduates have and the skills employers will be looking for in the future.
What it means to be workplace-ready now is very different to what it meant five years ago – and employers value different skills. In fact, the World Economic Forum has predicted that 50% of all employees will need training or retraining in digital skills in 2025.
AI and tech are rapidly on the rise, and the need for traditional skills is declining, according to a new survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which is now in its 20th year.
The survey gathered responses from nearly 1,000 global recruiters and staffing firms identifying the key skills they seek and anticipate prioritising in the coming years. The results were somewhat surprising.
AI and tech skills on the rise
As you may expect, technology and IT skills are predicted to be in high demand over the next five years. According to GMAC’s survey, employers rate it as the third most critical skill over the next half-decade, up from 14th currently. AI skills are also expected to be the fourth most sought-after skill (up from 21st currently).
This prediction is supported by the most recent Future of Jobs report from the World Economic Forum, which spoke to businesses to see what they think the future of jobs looks like. The results suggest that AI and Machine Learning Specialists will have a job growth of around 40% by 2027.
“As AI and automation dominate business operations, expertise in these areas is vital for efficiency and competitiveness. Organisations are recognising that they need employees who can leverage these technologies effectively,” says Nalisha Patel, Europe Regional Director at GMAC.
The rise of flexible work arrangements and automated project management tools are also likely to play a role in altering the skill set needed by graduates.
In addition to AI and technology/IT skills, ‘innovation’ is expected to rise in importance, GMAC’s survey finds, becoming the 6th most important skill within the next five years, up from 11th today.
Workplaces are increasingly offering courses and training for individuals lacking these digital skills, and building these skills is a key focus for business schools and universities, many of whom are starting to integrate them into the curriculum.
“Employers do not want to be left behind by an ongoing industrial revolution, one based on automation and more data,” says Patel.
Traditional skills are less important
On the other hand, skills that were once highly prized, such as ‘teamwork’ and ‘project management’, are predicted by recruiters to decline in importance.
‘Time and project management’ skills are expected to drop from the 7th to the 17th most valued skills in the workplace by employers. And ‘coachability’, which previously ranked 13th, is projected to drop to 20th.
“These are very interesting findings, and of course, we don’t know how these will impact different businesses or societal behaviour,” says Patel.
The researchers suggest that this shift is a sign of the times, reflecting how AI and automation are taking over roles that once relied on human collaboration and initiative. As a result, these traditional skills are becoming less essential, reshaping the priorities of employers.
Too much change?
As the workplace continues to evolve, the value of traditional skills is shifting, giving way to a new set of priorities driven by technological advancements and changing work environments.
In response to these changes, recruiters are altering their focus, honing in on a more unpredictable global business landscape where resilience, adaptability, and grit are now the desired skills.
However, not everyone is happy about this. PwC’s latest Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey finds that more than half of workers feel there’s too much change at work happening at once, with 44% questioning the need for these changes altogether.
Still, many employees are eager to upskill, recognising the potential of using generative AI and other technologies to enhance their efficiency.
For new graduates, staying ahead of the curve will require not only embracing these new tools and technologies but also developing the resilience and adaptability needed to succeed in a rapidly transforming world.
By Chloë Lane
Interested in this topic? You might also like this…