Training employees to use AI and big data ranks third among companies' skills training priorities over the next five years. This is evident from research figures presented by the WEF.

Six in ten workers will need training before 2027, but only half of workers currently have access to adequate training opportunities. The top priority for skills training in the 2023-2027 period is analytical thinking, to which an average of 10% of training initiatives will be devoted. The second priority for workforce development is to promote creative thinking, which will account for 8% of training initiatives.

Training employees to use AI and big data ranks third among companies' skills training priorities over the next five years and will be identified as a priority by 42% of companies surveyed. Employers also plan to focus on developing employees' leadership and social influence skills (40% of companies); resilience, flexibility and agility (32%); and curiosity and lifelong learning (30%).

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The report also provides insight into how respondents view specific roles and skills. Customer service jobs will decrease in net numbers between 2023 and 2027, according to the estimate of the respondents.

Nevertheless, 'Service orientation and customer service' as engagement skills remain relatively important for companies because they play a role in all kinds of other functions – something that the surveyed companies themselves also largely confirm.

Among the various key skills identified for 2023, self-efficacy skills rank above working with others in terms of the rate at which the importance of skills is increasing according to companies.

The social-emotional attitudes that companies say are growing fastest in importance are curiosity and lifelong learning; resilience, flexibility and agility; and motivation and self-awareness – evidence that companies are emphasizing the importance of resilient and reflective employees who embrace a culture of lifelong learning as the lifecycle of their skills declines. Systems thinking, AI and big data, talent management and service orientation and customer service complete the top 10.

Engagement skills – which include marketing and media and service orientation and customer service – are gaining importance most rapidly in the healthcare, personal services and wellness sectors; accommodation, food and leisure; and media, entertainment and sports.

The report examines in detail the trends in various economies and sectors and their significance for skills. Ziptone has requested further information on respondents, but has not yet received a response. Download the report here

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