Job hunters need to level up their soft skills in order to qualify for many of today’s hottest jobs, according to new research by Pearson, In one of the most extensive reviews of job listings to date, Pearson analyzed 21 million job ads around the globe and found that human skills top the list of what employers want in their candidates.
Pearson used its proprietary AI workforce analytics tool to review job ads across major employment markets to find out which skills are showing up most frequently and which are predicted to need the most improvement by 2026. Pearson found that even though technical skills remain important, employers now are prioritizing human skills such as collaboration, communication and leadership.
The Pearson Skills Outlook shows that job ads are dominated by five “Power Skills”, now the most sought-after capabilities for workers:
- Communication
- Customer Service
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Problem Solving
Looking ahead to 2026, Pearson’s predictive AI modelling tool suggests that the top five power skills that will be most in-demand to meet economic need are also human skills:
- Collaboration
- Customer Focus
- Personal Learning
- Achievement Focus
- Cultural and Social Intelligence
Although demand for technical skills is increasing, technology evolves so quickly that these capabilities often have a short shelf-life and can be unique to specific industries or jobs. People in tech roles need human skills to be agile and adaptable in their learning. The research findings provide guidance to employers on where they should focus their training and education programs.