We have all had to learn new skills over the past two years to new ways of working – embracing technology, better managing our work-life balance, and getting used to the differences in our day-today tasks.
A February report* from Microsoft Surface and YouGov found that 87% of employees said their company had adapted to a hybrid way of working, taking a ‘digital-first’ approach. Few companies plan to have a 100% remote workforce and the hybrid working model set to last long-term, with employees spending some time in an office environment.
So, with this previously enforced focus on digital and remote working, and lack of day-to-day face-to-face interaction with our colleagues and clients, do we need to refresh our memories around what a good standard of ‘soft’ skills is, and how they influence our working behaviour?
According to the latest version of the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report*, which forecasts future in-demand skills, 50% of everyone employed will need some level of reskilling by 2025, mainly due to the further adoption of technology.
Most employers who took part in the survey that produced the report stated that soft skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving top the bill when it comes to sought-after traits in employees, while self-management skills such as active learning, flexibility, resilience, and stress tolerance were also recognised, most likely due to the popularity of remote working.
50% of everyone employed will need some level of reskilling by 2025, mainly due to the further adoption of technology
The topmost in-demand skills were broken down into the following categories: Problem-solving, self-management, working with people, and technology use and development, and as we can see from the below, the top five sit firmly in the ‘soft’ camp.
Top 5 most in-demand skills of 2022 are:
- Analytical thinking and innovation (problem-solving)
- Active learning and learning strategies (self-management)
- Complex problem-solving (problem-solving)
- Critical thinking and analysis (problem-solving)
- Creativity, originality, and initiative (problem-solving)
The following 5 skills are:
- Leadership and social influence (working with people)
- Technology use, monitoring and control (technology use and development)
- Technology design and programming (technology use and development)
- Resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility (self-management)
- Resourcing, problem-solving and ideation (problem-solving)
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- The advantages and disadvantages of face-to-face communication
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- Job-hunting: how to tackle your ‘demons’
- Building success habits: how to stop sabotaging yourself
*‘Work Smarter to live Better’ report, Microsoft Surface and YouGov
*‘Future of Jobs’ report’, World Economic Forum
