New technology has always changed the way we work. It’s been happening for a while now, but the pandemic really highlighted how quickly things can go from 0 to 100. The shifts didn’t stop when the world opened up again. It seems like every day there’s a new headline about an industry in decline, or a media commentator making fun of someone with a ‘made up’ job (ignoring the very real salary).New technology has always changed the way we work. It’s been happening for a while now, but the pandemic really highlighted how quickly things can go from 0 to 100. The shifts didn’t stop when the world opened up again. It seems like every day there’s a new headline about an industry in decline, or a media commentator making fun of someone with a ‘made up’ job (ignoring the very real salary).
No matter what stage you’re at in your career, this can be a bit scary. It’s hard to know what you’ll need to do to stay ahead of the curve.
The good news is you don’t actually have to predict how your industry and your role could look in five or ten years’ time. You don’t have to know what unimaginable new jobs will exist. There’s no need to start a new career from scratch. It’s about having the skills to adapt to rapid change – just like leaders across the world have done for the past four years. When you’re in the right frame of mind, upskilling can be pretty exciting.
In this article, we’ll look at five of the most important skills in demand according to critical research from across the world, including:
- Analytical thinking
- Creative thinking
- Curiosity and lifelong learning
- Leadership and social influence
- Technological literacy
We’ll explore what each of these means in the real world, and how you can get started on futureproofing your own career.
1. Creative thinking
According to the latest Future of Jobs Report from the World Economic Forum (WEF), creative thinking is projected to be the most important skill set for workers in the years to 2027.
Creative thinking is the ability to come up with new and different ideas, solutions, or ways of doing things. In the WEF’s Global Skills Taxonomy, this skill set involves using imagination, curiosity, and open-mindedness to think outside the box. Creative thinking often means looking at problems from different perspectives, making connections between ideas that might not seem related, and being able to adapt ideas to different situations.
In a professional context, it’s valued because it helps people develop innovative solutions, improve processes, and overcome challenges in unique ways. Creative thinking includes skills like brainstorming, problem-solving, experimenting, and thinking critically about different possibilities. It’s a future skill because it’s generally considered an exception to the kinds of tasks and responsibilities that are increasingly being automated.
If you’re worried that you’re ‘just not creative’, don’t stress: creative thinking skills can be learned. There are several training and formal education options designed to hone your creativity, specifically in relation to the job you’re doing right now. The Diploma of Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a great example. This practical course gets you applying creative thinking strategies to solve real business problems and create innovative solutions.
2. Analytical thinking
Analytical thinking is the ability to break down complex information, identify patterns, and understand how different pieces fit together to make sense of a situation. Analytical thinking includes skills like data analysis, logical reasoning, and problem-solving. It involves examining information carefully, looking at facts and details, and using them to draw conclusions or make decisions. This skill set helps people understand why things happen and how different factors relate to one another.
In a professional context, analytical thinking is important because it enables people to solve problems efficiently, make informed decisions, and predict outcomes. It’s especially valuable in fields like science, technology, business, and healthcare, where understanding data and making strategic decisions is essential.
Analytical thinking is expected to be in high demand in the near future because technology is creating vast amounts of data, and businesses need people who can interpret it accurately. As companies increasingly rely on data-driven decisions, professionals who can think analytically will be needed to guide strategies, identify trends, and solve complex problems in innovative ways.
There are many different learning opportunities which incorporate analytical skills in learning outcomes. But if you’re looking to centre analytical abilities in your upskilling, the Diploma of Business (Organisational Development) could be right for you. This course is designed for leaders and managers (current and future) who want to be at the forefront of bringing their organisation into the future.
3. Curiosity and lifelong learning
This skill set involves an eagerness to seek new knowledge and an ongoing commitment to self-improvement. According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Skills Taxonomy, curiosity and lifelong learning are essential for adapting to changing job roles and for developing innovative ideas. The OECD Skills Outlook also highlights lifelong learning as a crucial skill for individuals and organisations, emphasising that a willingness to learn continuously helps people stay adaptable and resilient in a fast-evolving job market. This skill set includes asking questions, exploring new topics, embracing change, and committing to ongoing personal and professional growth.
In a professional context, curiosity and lifelong learning are valuable because they help individuals stay relevant and adaptable in fields that are constantly changing. For individuals, cultivating curiosity and lifelong learning is essential for personal career growth. By taking responsibility for their own learning, individuals can better manage career transitions, meet new job requirements, and achieve professional goals. In today’s world, where technology and market needs can change quickly, individuals with strong lifelong learning skills can more easily navigate these shifts, making them valuable assets to their organisations and opening up more career advancement opportunities.
From the perspective of learning and development (L&D) professionals, particularly in HR, fostering lifelong learning supports an organisation’s success by creating a workforce that can handle new technologies, adapt to shifting market demands, and innovate effectively. L&D teams may encourage lifelong learning through training programs, mentorship opportunities, and access to resources that support skill development.
If you’re considering a move into (or upwards in) HR, and want more practical L&D training, consider a Certificate IV or Diploma of Human Resources Management. These hands-on courses include opportunities to explore a variety of the latest workplace learning solutions.
4. Leadership and social influence
This skill set encompasses the ability to guide, motivate, and inspire individuals or teams toward achieving common goals, while effectively influencing others through communication, empathy, and relationship-building. It involves taking initiative, understanding group dynamics, and fostering collaboration.
Leadership skills are essential for driving positive change and achieving results in any organisational setting. It combines traditional leadership qualities, such as decision-making and strategic thinking, with emotional intelligence and the capacity to influence others’ behaviours and attitudes.
These abilities are important in a variety of different professional settings. For example:
- Cross-sector relevance
Leadership and social influence are vital across sectors and industries because these skills enable people to navigate diverse challenges and opportunities. Whether in healthcare, technology, education, or manufacturing, strong leadership ensures teams are aligned and productive, while social influence helps leaders gain buy-in for their ideas and strategies. - Managing change and innovation
In fast-paced industries like technology or finance, leaders must guide teams through constant change, including adopting new tools, workflows, or business models. The ability to influence and inspire confidence in others is critical for ensuring smooth transitions and fostering innovation. - Customer-centric sectors
In industries like hospitality, retail, or non-profits, social influence helps leaders create strong relationships with customers, donors, or stakeholders. Leaders must influence their teams to prioritise customer satisfaction while ensuring the organisation’s goals are met. - Crisis management in critical industries
In sectors like healthcare, emergency services, or government, effective leadership and influence are critical for managing crises. Leaders in these fields need to make quick decisions, inspire trust, and coordinate responses, often under intense pressure. - Building organisational culture
Across all industries, leadership and social influence help shape a positive organisational culture. Leaders who can influence employees through empathy, inclusion, and vision create engaged, motivated teams, boosting productivity and retention.
If these examples resonate with you, and you’re looking for management training that goes beyond compliance and paper-pushing, then the Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management could be your ticket. This nationally recognised course covers hot topics like communicating with influence, and leading organisational change.
5. Technological literacy
Technological literacy is the ability to understand, use, and adapt to a wide range of digital tools, systems, and processes in a way that enhances productivity and problem-solving. This skill set includes knowledge of general principles underlying technology and the capacity to apply that understanding to new or unfamiliar tools, rather than simply mastering a single software or device.
Unlike having expertise in specific technologies (such as being proficient in a particular programming language or tool) technological literacy means being adaptable and able to learn and work with new technologies as they emerge. This skill involves critical thinking about technology’s uses, potential impacts, and limitations and requires confidence in experimenting with digital tools.
The demand for technologically literate professionals is driven by a few key factors.
- Rapid technological advancements
Technology is evolving at a pace that makes individual technical skills quickly outdated. As fields like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, and data analytics develop, businesses need employees who are adaptable and comfortable learning and integrating new tools and concepts. Technological literacy enables workers to continually adjust and remain effective as these changes occur. - Cross-industry digital transformation
Virtually all industries, from healthcare and finance to manufacturing and education, are increasingly reliant on digital processes. Technological literacy allows workers to understand the potential applications and implications of digital tools, which is crucial for making informed decisions, improving operations, and driving innovation within any sector. - The rise of remote and hybrid work
With more companies adopting remote or hybrid work models, employees need technological literacy to navigate online collaboration platforms, cybersecurity practices, and cloud-based systems. Understanding how to work effectively in digital environments has become a core requirement for productivity and collaboration in many workplaces. - Growing need for data-driven decision-making
Technological literacy includes the ability to understand and work with data, helping professionals interpret and apply insights that drive smarter decision-making. As companies increasingly use data analytics for competitive advantage, the ability to understand and interpret data tools becomes a valuable skill across roles and industries. - Future-readiness and lifelong learning
As new tools and systems continue to emerge, employees with strong technological literacy are better prepared to keep up with these changes. This skill set supports lifelong learning and adaptability, making it a valuable asset for organisations seeking to remain competitive and resilient in the face of technological change.
Take AI, for example. According to projections like those from the Future Skills Organisation and the McKinsey Global Institute, there’s a race on to upskill professionals in the use of AI within their roles. By 2030, up to 30% of current hours worked could be automated. That leaves just a few years to get up to speed and learn to see AI as a tool (not a threat) for your career.
If you’re looking for a course that will leave you with job-ready skills as well as a deeper understanding of what AI is (and isn’t!), the Diploma of Artificial Intelligence could be for you. Develop skills in prompt engineering, data analysis, operational automation and more, as you work on practical projects and exercises using the latest platforms and tools.
Your futureproofing pathway
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