Essential Skills to Stay Relevant in the Age of AI

As artificial intelligence transforms industries, concerns about being replaced or "left behind" are widespread. A 2024 UK study found 79% of workers agree they must upskill — particularly in analytics and programming — to remain competitive. LinkedIn's research reinforces this: hiring managers now expect candidates to have basic AI literacy (knowing how to use tools like ChatGPT), with over half saying they wouldn't hire someone without AI skills.

Essential Skills for the AI Era

Technical and AI-Related Skills

Understanding AI tools and basic technology is now fundamental. Workers don't need to become programmers, but AI literacy is crucial — meaning the ability to learn how generative AI and data-driven tools work and apply them effectively.

The demand for "AI literacy" skills has grown sixfold in the past year, with companies seeking employees who understand prompt engineering and can navigate AI platforms. The World Economic Forum highlights data literacy as the "new business language."

While basic coding or computational thinking helps people understand how AI is built, at minimum everyone should be comfortable with digital tools and understand concepts like algorithms and data privacy.

Technical and AI-Related Skills

Analytical and Creative Thinking

Solid reasoning and creativity give humans a distinct edge over machines. AI can process data, but humans must interpret it and ask why.

In the workplace, creative thinking means envisioning novel solutions, designing new processes, or imagining products AI alone could not create. Employers increasingly value people who can combine data-driven insights with creativity — for example, using AI to prototype options quickly and then using human judgment to select the best one.

Analytical and Creative Thinking

Emotional and Interpersonal Skills

Technology may excel at tasks, but emotional intelligence and social skills are distinctly human. As AI changes jobs, skills like empathy, collaboration, adaptability, and leadership become even more important.

Research emphasizes traits like empathy, ethics, vision, and leadership as capabilities that computers cannot replicate. For instance, guiding a team through AI-driven change requires understanding colleagues' concerns, communicating clearly, and maintaining motivation — all soft skills.

• Develop good communication (both within teams and with customers)
• Learn to manage change and uncertainty
• Practice empathy and emotional awareness
• Build social connections and influence
• Take on roles AI cannot (coaching, negotiating complex human issues)

Emotional and Interpersonal Skills

Ethics, Critical Thinking, and Media Literacy

As AI tools generate content and decisions, it's vital to question their outputs. Ethical reasoning and critical thinking are key to avoiding pitfalls.

Experts like UNESCO stress that education must include ethics and human rights so AI is used responsibly. In practical terms, this means:

• Learning about AI bias and how data can contain unfair assumptions
• Understanding privacy and accountability concerns
• Verifying information through fact-checking and source evaluation
• Recognizing synthetic media and deepfakes
• Questioning whether an AI's answer could be hallucinated
• Cross-checking facts from multiple sources

The EU's new AI regulations define "AI literacy" as understanding AI's risks and implications. Being literate means more than using AI — it means being aware of how it can err or mislead, and having the judgment to use it responsibly.

Ethics, Critical Thinking, and Media Literacy

Lifelong Learning and Adaptability

Change itself is the only constant. AI and automation are accelerating how fast skills become outdated.

The World Economic Forum projects that by 2030, roughly 39–44% of all job skills will need updating. Nearly half of what you know today might not be enough five years from now. To avoid being left behind, continuous learning is essential.

This doesn't just mean formal education — it means adopting a mindset of regularly acquiring new skills. Workers should take advantage of:

• Online courses and certifications in data analytics or AI fundamentals
• Workshops and bootcamps in emerging technologies
• Company training and reskilling programs
• Industry-specific courses and software training

On an individual level, staying curious, seeking feedback, and being open to change will pay off. The future workplace will reward people who actively pursue new learning in AI and related fields, as well as those who can pivot into new roles or industries if needed.

People should engage in lifelong learning and increase their adaptability

Key Takeaway

No one is "doomed" by AI if they adapt. Leading organizations and international bodies agree that a broad mix of skills is needed:

Education and training must evolve to teach these skills. Globally, governments and companies are responding — the U.S. Department of Labor now funds AI-literacy programs for workers, and the EU's AI Act mandates that staff be trained in AI.

— World Economic Forum and UNESCO

By embracing this guidance, people around the world can use AI as a tool to enhance their work, rather than being replaced by it.