As the workplace keeps evolving with AI, remote teams, and digital shifts, what companies expect from job seekers is changing too. According to recently published global data from the World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs 2025” report, employers are placing a premium on one clear skill above all others: analytical thinking.
The survey, which gathered responses from more than 1,000 companies representing 14.1 million workers worldwide, ranked the most valuable job skills in 2025. Nearly seven in ten employers (69%) identified analytical thinking as a core strength they want to see. In practical terms, that means workers who can examine problems from different angles, interpret data, and make decisions with sound judgment are now more in demand than ever.
Adaptability and People Skills Dominate the Top Tier
Not far behind analytical thinking, the ability to stay flexible and bounce back from setbacks is also high on the list. About 67% of respondents rated resilience, agility, and adaptability as essential, placing these traits just below problem-solving on the skills ladder. In third place, leadership and social influence received support from 61% of employers, reflecting the growing need for managers who can not only guide teams through transitions but also motivate them during uncertain times.
| Rank | Skill | Share of Employers Surveyed (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Analytical thinking | 69% |
| 2 | Resilience, flexibility and agility | 67% |
| 3 | Leadership and social influence | 61% |
| 4 | Creative thinking | 57% |
| 5 | Motivation and self-awareness | 52% |
| 6 | Technological literacy | 51% |
| 7 | Empathy and active listening | 50% |
| 8 | Curiosity and lifelong learning | 50% |
| 9 | Talent management | 47% |
| 10 | Service orientation and customer service | 47% |
| 11 | AI and big data | 45% |
| 12 | Systems thinking | 42% |
| 13 | Resource management and operations | 41% |
| 14 | Dependability and attention to detail | 37% |
| 15 | Quality control | 35% |
| 16 | Teaching and mentoring | 26% |
| 17 | Networks and cybersecurity | 25% |
| 18 | Design and user experience | 25% |
| 19 | Multi-lingualism | 23% |
| 20 | Marketing and media | 21% |
| 21 | Reading, writing and mathematics | 21% |
| 22 | Environmental stewardship | 20% |
| 23 | Programming | 17% |
| 24 | Manual dexterity, endurance and precision | 14% |
| 25 | Global citizenship | 13% |
| 26 | Sensory-processing abilities | 6% |
Creative thinking, cited by 57%, and self-awareness coupled with inner drive, recognized by 52%, rounded out the top five. Together, these traits show that companies are no longer just hiring for what people know, but how they think, how they handle pressure, and how well they connect with others. The modern workforce, it seems, must be not only smart, but emotionally agile and socially intuitive.
As the World Economic Forum put it, today’s ideal employee is someone who blends “problem-solving abilities and personal resilience,” functioning as both an innovator and a collaborator in teams facing fast-paced change.
Tech Fluency and Curiosity Emerge as Essentials
Beyond interpersonal qualities, employers are paying close attention to how well candidates can keep pace with new tools and trends. About 51% of the companies surveyed highlighted technological literacy as a must-have. That includes a working understanding of digital platforms, software, and connected systems.
Just as telling, 50% emphasized curiosity and lifelong learning, signals that employers want people who take initiative to stay up to date and evolve with the industry. Empathy and active listening tied with that same 50% mark, reinforcing that human connection still matters in a tech-driven world.
The Middle of the Pack: Managing Talent, Data, and Services
As businesses grow more complex, some employers are focusing on internal efficiency and data strategy. Talent management and customer service skills were each cited by 47% of respondents. Skills linked to AI and big data, seen by many as the backbone of the next industrial shift, landed at 45%, putting them on the edge of the upper tier.
Other notable entries include systems thinking (42%), resource management (41%), and attention to detail (37%). These abilities speak to a rising demand for workers who can not only use tools effectively but also understand how different parts of an organization fit together.
Even technical skills like quality control (35%) and cybersecurity (25%) made the list, though they lagged behind broader cognitive and interpersonal traits.
Traditional Academic Skills Slip Behind
Interestingly, older pillars of education such as reading, writing, and math were ranked relatively low, just 21% of employers saw them as vital for the roles of the future. Programming, once considered a golden ticket to tech careers, was only highlighted by 17%. Multilingualism, often seen as a global advantage, sat at 23%, tied with media and marketing-related skills.
At the very bottom of the rankings was sensory-processing ability, named by just 6% of employers, suggesting that hyper-specialized traits are less of a priority for the general workforce in the near term.
Hiring Isn’t Getting Easier, Especially for Job Seekers
While the list may help employers identify what they want, the search for a job isn’t getting any simpler for candidates. A 2023 study by Aerotek revealed that more than 70% of job seekers felt the process was harder than they expected. And with the rise of AI-powered job scams — where fake candidates use AI to build convincing digital profiles — the process could grow even more confusing.
That means genuine applicants must compete not only with each other but with increasingly sophisticated attempts at deception. In that context, the human qualities listed earlier — resilience, self-awareness, adaptability — could make a real difference in setting authentic professionals apart.
Rising Stakes, New Rules
In sum, the skill set employers want in 2025 goes far beyond hard technical know-how. The ideal worker is someone who can think critically, navigate pressure, lead others, and keep learning no matter how the job evolves. While advanced technology skills still matter, they’re most valuable when paired with emotional intelligence and a growth mindset.
As expectations climb, candidates looking to stay ahead of the curve might ask themselves not only what they know, but how well they think, how quickly they adapt, and how clearly they can communicate. In today’s job market, being able to connect the dots may be just as valuable as knowing where they are.