Top 25 Most In-Demand Skills in 2024 & Beyond

Does your organization have all the skills it needs to succeed in 2024 and beyond?

According to top sources, including the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2023 report and LinkedIn’s most in-demand skills guide, analytical skills, management, and digital literacy are three of the most in-demand skills that will futureproof your company’s talent.

Want to know which top technical and soft skills businesses need today and what skills will become essential for our next-generation, tech-driven future? Keep on scrollin’.

TL;DR — Key Takeaways

• Today, the critical skills candidates and employees need include soft skills like creative and analytical thinking, in addition to technical skills such as digital or technological literacy.
• Big data analytics, climate change and environmental management technologies, and encryption and cybersecurity are expected to be the biggest drivers of job growth over the next five years, making skills within those drivers important to learn.
• A few of the highest-paying skills at the moment are roles relating to software and web development and data analysis. This is due to the fact that AI and Machine Learning Specialists top the list of fast-growing jobs, followed by Sustainability Specialists.
• The top 25 skills in demand in 2024 include management, emotional intelligence, software development, SQL, business analysis, and AI.
• Organizations on the lookout for employees with next-gen skills rely on Toggl Hire’s all-in-one skills assessment platform, automating their hiring and selection process and saving hours of time.

What are the fastest-growing skills in demand, and why?

As technology, like artificial intelligence (AI), and ongoing remote and hybrid work continue to transform how we work, the most in-demand skills are changing too.

In fact, over the next five years, the World Economic Forum (WEF) predicts that 83 million jobs will be lost and 69 million new ones created. Consequently, that could cause a big wave of change for skill sets in the workplace and job market.

The driver for this growth? Technology and increased global digital access, for sure, but also the localization of supply chains and a continued green transition. This shift to match modern business needs will make some in-demand skills more popular, like creative thinking, self-awareness, programming, and big data.

According to the WEF Future of Jobs report, there’ll be a greater need for strong cognitive skills to solve more complex business problems. As a result, their research lists the top five “skills on the rise” as:

👉 Creative thinking

👉 Analytical thinking

👉 Technological literacy

👉 Curiosity and lifelong learning

👉 Resilience, flexibility, and agility

Per LinkedIn’s research on most in-demand skills for 2023, the types of the skills listed as in-demand have changed over the past few years, resulting in their current top three: management, communication, and customer service. Management and communication are key business tools, especially as workforces become more complex and dispersed due to continuing hybrid and remote work models.

Lastly, Upwork, one of the leading global freelancer platforms, reported that companies may need to find alternate sources to fill critical talent gaps. Per their findings, independent talent is the best solution for onboarding specific in-demand skills — a trend that’s expected to continue through 2024.

Among the list of most in-demand skills, those with the highest year-over-year growth on the Upwork platform within the noted categories are sales & business development (54%), data entry (47%), accounting (45%), and 3D animation (44%).

Upwork

What are the highest-paying skills in demand right now?

Like any demand and supply situation in business, in-demand skills are billed by professionals at a higher rate — this is typically because they’re, well, more in-demand, but also because it’s taken these professionals longer to acquire such skills. As technical skills shortages, for instance, continue to grow, businesses will need to plan ahead to bridge their talent gap and meet the salary expectations of employees with those top skills.

Global talent shortages have reached a 16-year high, as 75% of employers can’t find the talent they need with the right blend of technical and soft skills.

Source

Here are a few of the salaries that high-income skills fetch in 2024 in the US:

Marketing

Social media manager: $58,095

Content marketing manager: $73,613

Technology

Business analyst: $93,227

Data scientist: $156,524

DevOps engineer: $123,152

Applications engineer: $122,200

Full-stack developer: $97,469

Front-end developer: $112,328

Operations

Project manager: $98,495

Manager: $74,102

Top 25 future-proof skills for 2024 and beyond

If organizations want to achieve their business goals and remain competitive in the future, they need to ensure their workforce has the necessary high-demand soft and technical skills.

For a start, here’s what the WEF listed as the top skills in demand for 2023 — all of which are still relevant and in demand according to other sources as we head into 2024:

With that in mind, have a look at how many of the following soft and hard skills your business already has onboard and which you’ll need to focus on to boost your future talent.

Soft skills

Soft skills (also called interpersonal skills or human skills) are equally important as technical expertise, especially as team and organizational collaboration becomes more virtual.

1. Analytical thinking

Analytical thinking is a range of cognitive skills that enable a person to analyze a problem, think critically about it, and resolve the issue. For example, problem-solving, brainstorming, troubleshooting, or data analysis.

Listed as the second fastest skill on the rise and the highest priority for training by the WEF, employees or candidates who lack critical thinking skills could have difficulty dealing with the pace of AI-augmented work and making quick, decisive decisions that prevent workflow roadblocks.

There’s more of a focus and an interest in having people with analytical thinking, people with creativity.

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum | Source

2. Management

Management skills refer to how well someone can manage a team. It involves planning, continually communicating with team members, motivating them, helping solve problems, and budgeting.

This in-demand skill is important, as having a bad manager costs companies around the world billions in lost productivity and is the number one reason why people quit their jobs.

🔥 Unsure how to find employees with great management skills? Head over to this article that delves into the details of how to spot leaders with great management skills.

3. Creative thinking

According to the World Economic Forum, the “demand for creative thinking will grow faster in the next five years, by 73%, than demand for analytical thinking.”

Creativity in the workplace refers to the ability to think differently about a problem or situation. It’s about coming up with creative solutions that others may not have considered. Another aspect is being open-minded about colleagues’ suggestions that others may disagree with.

Creative thinking can help resolve conflicts or lead to the creation of a new product, for instance. Along with added innovation, it can also improve team resilience as they can think of new ways to resolve problems.

4. Communication skills

There’s no surprise that communication is one of the top in-demand skills. Every business needs people who can communicate well with co-workers, customers, and other stakeholders.

Plus, as ongoing hybrid work environments and remote work models continue, the ability to communicate clearly and confidently across different mediums, such as email, video, and in-person, has become even more essential.

5. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your emotions and responses, on top of being aware of how others are feeling and the effect you (and others) have on them. Empathy, self-awareness, good listening skills, and sensitivity are examples of emotional intelligence in action.

Employees with high levels of emotional intelligence can help motivate other team members, resolve conflicts quickly (or avoid them altogether), and help create a positive work environment.

Learn why your next hire needs emotional intelligence and these other five meta-skills to succeed. 👀👇

6. Adaptability

When employees are adaptable or resilient, they are willing to challenge themselves, try and fail, and experiment with new solutions to solve problems or improve how a task is performed. With this skill, they can adapt quickly to change, maintain high levels of productivity, and keep up with new industry changes and ideas.

Indeed suggests getting out of your comfort zone, being a better listener, and asking questions as the top three ways employees can boost their adaptability. Being willing. to make mistakes, having a positive attitude, and practicing emotional intelligence are all great tips, too.

7. Leadership skills

Good leaders can inspire teams to do their best even during tough times. This is an especially essential skill in companies that experience a lot of change (startups, tech-focused companies, etc.). Good leaders share traits like integrity, good communication skills, gratitude, and influence.

Here are a few eye-opening stats about the impact of (good and bad) leadership, per Zippia:

• 79% of employees will quit due to a lack of appreciation
• While 83% of organizations believe it’s important to develop leaders at every company level, only 5% of businesses have implemented leadership development at all levels
• Only 48% of employees view their company’s leadership as “high quality”
• US businesses spend $166 billion on leadership development each year — nearly half of the $366 billion that’s spent globally

• Women account for only 20% of CEO positions

8. Life-long learning

Ongoing curiosity and a willingness to learn and improve are traits that companies need in their employees if they want to innovate and succeed in competitive markets. Employees who are lifelong learners are constantly upgrading their skills with formal learning, such as short courses in leadership at their local university, or informal training, such as free courses by Coursera, edX, and Udemy.

Offering employee training and development opportunities is an essential part of any modern company’s employee value proposition, which can boost engagement and retention rates and help attract top talent. In fact, 59% of employees believe that training improves their performance, and 76% of Millennials feel that professional development is essential for a strong company culture.

Long gone are the days when we might expect to be set for a ‘job for life’ after finishing education and a spell as a trainee or apprentice. Today’s fast-paced digital transformation means industries are constantly changing and tools or technologies that are cutting-edge on the day will be outdated the next. With the routine and mundane tasks managed just fine by machines and AI, we will be expected to handle new and out-of-the-ordinary tasks, and that means consistently learning and keeping up-to-date with the changing world around us.

Bernard Marr

9. Taking ownership

Employees who take ownership or responsibility for their tasks are a big asset to their team and the organization. They can be trusted to consistently complete their duties on time and at a high-quality level.

With the nature of teamwork and team structures changing, such as cross-functional product-oriented delivery teams (PODS), it’s even more important for employees to be reliable and productive.

10. Marketing

Marketing skills are not something that only the marketing team needs. Today, everyone from HR to sales, research and development, and project management professionals need marketing skills, as these roles all include an element of marketing or pitching a new idea or solution to others.

And as the global market becomes increasingly more connected and competitive, the ability to tell persuasive stories is essential for every business.

Here’s what Upwork’s shares were its most in-demand marketing skills for 2023 — helpful in determining what to focus on as you work to close any internal skills gaps in 2024:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

• Social Media Marketing

• Other Digital Marketing

• Lead Generation

• Sales & Business Development

• Telemarketing

• Search Engine Marketing

• Email Marketing

• Marketing Strategy

• Marketing Automation

11. Teamwork

Working together well as a team means that:

• Workflows and handovers go smoothly

• Everyone is performing at their best

• Team members ask questions immediately if anything is unclear

• Suggestions are made and accepted maturely, and

• Deadlines are met with good-quality work

Is that always possible? No. But, by hiring people who fit in with your company culture, you can help shape the workforce and attract talent that fits in or complements your culture.

Technical skills

Soft and technical skills complement each other. Together, they make up a company’s talent — the driving force that makes a business succeed. According to Upwork, the most in-demand tech skills for 2023 were:

1. Full Stack Development

2. Front-End Development

3. Back-End Development

4. Mobile App Development

5. Web Design

6. Ecommerce Website Development

7. UX/UI Design

8. CMS Development

9. Manual Testing

10. Scripting & Automation

Now, here’s our list of top technical skills required in 2024 and beyond.

12. Digital literacy

Digital literacy is the ability to effectively use digital technology. It also includes a person’s ability to evaluate data — a vital skill with today’s flood of information through numerous digital channels.

Considering that the demand for jobs that require AI skills could rise by 40% in the next five years, the need for digital literacy skills to match those roles will be key.

Those who lack digital literacy will be at a severe disadvantage when it comes to competing for jobs and business opportunities by 2030, whatever career path they decide to follow.

Bernard Marr

13. Software development

IBM defines software development as “a set of computer science activities dedicated to the process of creating, designing, deploying, and supporting software.” Today, nearly everything we use, from our mobile web and phone apps to our laptops and fridges, all use software.

Plus, as more companies deliver software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings, such as data analytics tools, customer relationship management programs, project management software, and marketing automation, software dev companies will need enough of the right technical talent to keep up.

💡 Did you know? The global software-as-a-service market is predicted to be $232 billion by 2024, up from $197 billion in 2023, Statista reports!

14. SQL

Structured Query Language, or SQL, is a programming language for accessing and managing large databases. As more and more companies work with data stored in databases, this skill is vital to support quick, intelligent business decisions.

Along with enabling fast process queries, the benefits of SQL include:

• No coding skills needed

• Multiple data views

• Used by most major database management vendors like Oracle and Microsoft

• It’s highly interactive

15. Finance

Not only is finance at the core of every business, big or small, but it’s also gaining more strategic value —helping businesses forecast and predict scenarios that improve growth, profitability, and sustainability.

Today, CFOs, in particular, are taking on more responsibility, the Journal of Accountancy recently explained:

Once, the CFO led a team that prepared information on historic financial results and trends and set limits on spending. Now, management and other stakeholders are increasingly turning to CFOs to be value-adding business partners who can provide greater insights on emerging trends and on how best to use financial reporting data in decision-making.

Source

16. Python

Python is a popular programming language that is used in building software, websites, and data analysis, for instance. One reason Python is popular is because of its versatility. It can also easily automate processes, making it vital in software development.

17. Java

Java is a programming language used for creating web applications. Though it was first released way back in 1995, it’s still essential today, as many apps and websites will not run or function properly without Java.

Although Kotlin is gaining popularity among Android developers, Java skills will still be vital for working on Android projects in 2024. For any enterprise environment, basic and advanced Java programming skills will remain indispensable. Concepts like multithreading, concurrency, JVM tuning and object-oriented design will still be highly relevant.

TechXyte

18. Artificial intelligence (AI)

AI is something everybody has heard of, and pretty much every business is using it today. Generative AI and machine learning, for instance, like ChatGPT, has been taking center stage for a few months now and is being used to assist with tasks like:

• Content writing

• Product and app development

• Graphic design and video creation

• Marketing workflows

• Improving the customer experience

Here’s how JP Morgan predicts this technology will function in 2030, creating a major shift in today’s creative roles like content writers, coders, and graphic designers.

19. Data analysis

Data analysis refers to the process of analyzing raw data and using the insights to make more informed, data-driven decisions. In business today and in the future, data analysis and data management skills are essential for getting key business insight from a vast pool of data.

Investopedia shares how data analytics can benefit businesses:

• Optimize performance

• Perform more efficiently

• Maximize profit

• Make more strategically-guided decisions

💡 Did you know? The top three industries offering data analytics jobs in 2023 were IT, software development, and staffing and recruiting.

20. Web design

Web design is still an important skill in 2024 and beyond. Any successful business strategy includes an engaging, helpful, and user-friendly website to grab the attention of visitors, provide them with clear information, and, if done right, lead to more conversions.

Innovative businesses even include modern tech trends like an AI chatbot on their website to improve the user experience.

Websites will continue to evolve as the tech landscape changes. New ideas for consuming digital media will appear over time, offering unique new experiences —  for example, mass adoption of AR (Augmented Reality) is just around the corner. However, the website is perfectly evolved for the types of simple customer interaction that businesses rely on, and will continue to matter in 2023 and beyond.

Source

21. JavaScript

JavaScript is a programming language that’s used to make interactive websites. In other words, it makes the content of dynamic web pages. It forms the core of standard web technology with its two siblings, HTML and CSS.

Why is it cool?

• It’s one of the few programming languages that works with all popular browsers.

• It can build apps on mobile and on the web.

• There are lots of libraries and frameworks available to help devs kick off projects fast.

22. Cloud computing skills

Cloud computing basically means a system where all computing — from storage, software, networking, and intelligence — happens in the cloud. For businesses, cloud computing is a good infrastructure choice because it’s:

• Easily scalable and flexible

• Saves on costs

• Offers better security

• Provides a faster time to market with new products or services

A few common roles in cloud computing include software developers, cloud engineers, architects, and administrators.

23. UX/UI design

These two terms are often confused. UX Design is about creating seamless user experiences by understanding exactly what users want and designing interfaces that fulfill those needs. UI Design, on the other hand, focuses on creating interfaces that have an aesthetically appealing visual design.

These two skills are a must for 2024 and beyond, considering that the benefits include:

• Increased user engagement

• Better user retention

• Improved site functionality

• Better connection with customers

• Increased revenue

24. Operations

Operations management is the process of planning, controlling, and supervising processes and delivery. The goal of operations management is to increase the efficiency of an organization. Typically, an ops manager has key skills that include:

• Relevant technical expertise

• Great organizational and project management skills

• The ability to motivate others

• Good analytical thinking

Operations is more than just making businesses more efficient; it’s about how a company keeps the lights on and is an essential function of most modern businesses.

25. QA testing

QA testing forms a critical part of the software development cycle. Quality Assurance testers reveal any bugs, errors, and inconsistencies in the software and can save companies time and money by ensuring their product quality remains high.

Per Upwork, QA testing typically involves:

• Finding and fixing errors, bugs, and redundancies

• Confirming logical flow

• Ensuring seamless User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX)

• Anticipating and fixing unexpected software flaws

• Ensuring developers meet customer requirements and expectations

Here are a few fun facts about QA testing, per Diffy:

• 79% of users note bugs in their software and websites

• 35% of companies use non-testers in their testing process

• High-performing products have 200x more frequent code deployments

• 23% of companies’ annual IT budgets are allocated to QA and testing

Ensuring the workforce is learning in-demand skills is key to futureproofing your organization. Selecting candidates with already have the most sought-after skills through skills-based hiring is a big piece of the puzzle.

How to hire top talent with today’s most in-demand skills

With skills testing, of course! 😏

A skills-based hiring approach will help companies onboard the right in-demand hard skills and soft skills to ensure continued expansion and success well into the future.

Skills testing puts the focus on candidates’ actual capabilities, and through demonstrating their skills, the process quickly highlights the top talent in your recruitment funnel.

With Toggle Hire’s skills assessment platform, you can create a customized skills test by job title in a few clicks and automate the (otherwise laborious) hunt for those with in-demand skills. Our testing engine contains more than 18,000 questions created by subject matter experts!

Try Toggl Hire now so your new hires will be ready to tackle the world of work today and be prepared for what’s ahead in 2024 and beyond. You can sign up for free — so there’s no reason not to test it out. If you’re not ready for that commitment, explore our skills test library first.