In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which transformed the way people work, it also changed the skills required for roles. The impacts on costs and productivity of labour led to an acceleration in digital transformation by companies, creating immediate and large-scale workforce and skills challenges. The World Economic Forum's (WEF) report affirmed that "the current disruption from the pandemic-induced lockdowns and economic contraction will lead companies to integrate technology into their operations by 2025." Forty-three percent of companies plan to reduce their workforce due to technology integration by 2025; 41% plan to expand their use of contractors for task-specialized work; 34% intend to expand their workforce because of technology integration

As a result of this change, many organizations are transforming their workforces to drive productivity and innovation. Upskilling is one way that they are achieving this goal. It involves anticipating the skills people will need in the future and making sure that those skills are being learned today. This helps employees interact more easily with technology and interplay with it efficiently.

Key prediction on the future work functionalities

1. It is anticipated that just about 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025.
2. As businesses integrate technology into their operations, they place a high priority on the adoption of cloud computing, big data, and e-commerce.
3. Automation will replace repetitive and low-efficiency jobs which will be easily automated or at risk of fluctuating demand. Automation and machine learning are the actuation behind changes within the workforce. it'll result in a rise within the number of skills required by the workforce.
4. The top skills that employers might want to determine rising in prominence by 2025 include critical thinking and analysis, problem-solving, and skills in self-management like active learning, resilience, stress tolerance, and suppleness.
5. 84% of employers are set to rapidly digitalize working processes, including a big expansion of remote work—with the potential to manoeuvre 44% of their workforce to control remotely(WEF,2020).
6. It was anticipated that by 2025, the time spent on current tasks at work by humans and machines are equal.

Organizations within the digital world require a mixture of hard and soft skills for his or her workforce. the subsequent could be a list of skill sets that may air the priority list by most employers:

Data skills

Data and computer science will play critical roles within the way forward for business. . The scope of massive data analysis is merely set to extend in years to return, facilitating machine learning and automation. Accordingly, those that can organize data collection, interpret the results, and make decisions supported these findings are in high demand.

Artificial intelligence

Rapid advances in AI and machine learning will change the way that we work, coping with repetitive tasks faster and with a greater degree of precision than any human ever could; mapping out trends to predict what is going to happen within the future, and creating highly personalized user experiences. Those with the AI skills to develop and implement computing systems are in high demand from employers and entrepreneurs looking to revolutionise and streamline the way we work and live.

Blockchain  

Blockchain topped LinkedIn’s 2020 list of the foremost in-demand hard skills 2020. Blockchain is defined as a decentralised public ledger. Blockchain technologies may be accustomed provide a record of trades and transactions, which have the potential to possess a big impact on finance. It gives a strong and reliable record of trades and transactions. The WEF estimates that 10% of the world GDP are stored on blockchain by 2027. but finance, blockchain could even be utilized in the hiring, to test credentials and employment history . It might be utilized in logistics and provide chain management furthermore .Individuals with hard skills in blockchain are going to be in demand by top hiring organizations.

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing don’t seem like futuristic careers but these skills are going to be essential within the workplaces of the long run. the rationale it'll sustain because it can't be completely automated. For the present a minimum of, these roles require an individual's touch, to induce a footing within the new digital landscape.

Emotional Intelligence

Soft skill like Emotional intelligence is one in all the foremost frequently referenced skills in lists of what is going to be needed within the future jobs market – similarly because the current one. It also carries personal benefits. Research has shown that top emotional intelligence is one amongst the foremost reliable predictors of career success and salary levels. As we move towards a globalized society, being awake to and considerate of cultural differences has also become a component of the emotional intelligence mix. Possessing these qualities helps us to figure in collaborative environments, reduce stress, and obtain the most effective results from everyone.

Cognitive flexibility

In this digital era employees must handle large amounts of opportunities and challenges that include it. ability to adapt to vary and conceptualize complex multiple ideas all without delay is far required never before. Skill associated with cognitive flexibility shows qualities that reside in advanced multi-taskers and which are highly valued by employers and recruiters.

Creativity  

Creativity is usually identified as a key skill for the long run. It’s important to notice that this doesn't apply only to ‘creative’ professions, but has relevance across industries and functions. Indeed, the standard of creativity is one that has increased in importance across varieties of professions in recent years, says Accenture.

The Future of Upskilling

The future of labor is quickly evolving and driving people to be ready for the longer term job role which necessitates upskilling. Employers at the present edge have an interest in candidates who are more resilient and adaptive to vary. This can be a critical skill while deploying the old workforce in an exceedingly new job role. Certainly upskilling is now becoming how life. It’s all about the people’s ability to find out, unlearn and relearn. the thought is to shift the main target from institutions to individuals and empower the people to be told. Hence, the employer has to learn the proper mixture of skilled and adaptable people, aligned to the proper culture and with the correct mindset and behaviours to power their business.