I mean, I’m looking forward to the holidays, but some people are already planning for 2026! And if you’re looking to improve your skills and career, it’s probably a good idea to start thinking about the skills that will be in demand next year and beyond, especially if you are looking to take a class or two. So, what are experts projecting will be the top 10 employable skills in 2026?
The job market is changing very quickly with new technologies, new jobs rising and old ones falling, and new educational opportunities. As a result, there is a mix of new and old skills to be developed and strengthened in order to stay ahead in the job market.
- Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is a soft, transferable skill that many employers are looking for. EQ means being able to understand and manage emotions and is used in things like conflict resolution, leadership, adaptability and teamwork. It’s something you can practice every day!
- AI literacy
Love it, hate it or indifferent to it, AI literacy is becoming more and more important. Understanding how to use the tools and understanding their limits and where they fall apart, is a top skill for any job that uses technology or may be affected by AI use. If nothing else, understanding how to use the tools can make you more efficient in mundane tasks. There are countless videos and courses on how to use AI, many of them free.
- Problem-Solving
Problem-solving has been important for a long time, and it’s still important to this day. It’s another transferable skill that is important in pretty well every industry all over the world and it can be practiced every day. Problem-solving means analyzing problems, coming up with solutions, implementing those solutions and then following up on the solution to make sure it works in the long term or continuing to tweak it.
- Communication
Like problem-solving, communication has always been important in pretty well every job. Communication covers things like talking and active listening, writing, effective use of telephones and email, and even visual communication! You can learn more about communication by recognizing the forms you’re good at and practicing the ones you’re not so good at. There are also plenty of free courses and workshops that you can take to get better.
- Adaptability
As the workplaces change, employees that can go with the flow are becoming increasingly more important. This can mean embracing new technology and programs, new policies and procedures, and new ways of working (or new people to work with!) As industries continue to globalize, being able to work with a variety of people and methods of working is important.
- Storytelling with Data
Data crunching is important in many jobs, but being able to relay that information in a way that is approachable and digestible is harder to find and sought after. This is called Data Storytelling and what it means is the ability to analyze data and then convey what that data means in an understandable way. It takes a combination of creativity, good communication skills, and data skills.
- Sustainability
There continues to be a focus on the importance of corporate responsibility and sustainability is an important part of that. This usually refers to being environmentally friendly, often in small ways and in everyday work. People who can come up with, implement, and monitor sustainability practices are sought after across multiple industries. This can tie well to problem solving and communication skills as well!
- Creativity
Creativity leads to innovation which leads to better products and services. Being able to creatively think your way through problems and potential solutions, as well as new ideas, are beneficial in many jobs and is fun! Creativity can be practiced every day and you can get better at it. Remember that being creative just means creating something – it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be artistic.
- Digital collaboration
Email, instant messaging, remote work, and more all means that digital collaboration is simply a normal part of the workday. Being able to handle this is really important and can allow you to work more flexibility while still being productive. Get to know different digital collaboration tools – you can use videos and blogs to learn all about how to use these tools.
- Critical Thinking
Critical thinking has always been important, but with so much AI generated content, clickbait articles, and outright lies spread across social media, it’s even more important. Being able to filter out information before it can cause problems is important no matter where you work, and it’s still important for the usual things like evaluating information and making good decisions.
What’s nice about these skills is that they are useful in many different jobs, and they are all things you can learn about and practice without spending any money! There are plenty of Youtube videos and blogs that can give you tips and tricks on how to do these things and improve your skill level.
Which 2026 skill are you going to learn more about into the new year?
