Ranked: The Most Important Job Skills in 2025

Marcus Lu
2025-07-17 13:38:00
www.visualcapitalist.com

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

Ranked: The Most Important Job Skills in 2025

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Key Takeaways

Analytical thinking is the most important job skill in 2025, according to a global survey of employers.
The top five skills encompass a wide range of areas, including creative thinking and leadership influence.

The job market is evolving rapidly, and so are the skills employers value most. As automation, AI, and remote work reshape how we operate, companies are seeking individuals who can adapt and thrive.

In this infographic, we highlight the most important job skills in 2025, based on employer feedback from around the world.

Data & Discussion

The data for this visualization comes from the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs 2025 report. It ranks the most important job skills for 2025 based on 1,043 unique responses by global companies, collectively representing more than 14.1 million employees worldwide.

Skill	Share of Respondents Choosing as Core Skill (%)
Analytical thinking	69
Resilience, flexibility and agility	67
Leadership and social influence	61
Creative thinking	57
Motivation and self-awareness	52
Technological literacy	51
Empathy and active listening	50
Curiosity and lifelong learning	50
Talent management	47
Service orientation and customer service	47
AI and big data	45
Systems thinking	42
Resource management and operations	41
Dependability and attention to detail	37
Quality control	35
Teaching and mentoring	26
Networks and cybersecurity	25
Design and user experience	25
Multi-lingualism	23
Marketing and media	21
Reading, writing and mathematics	21
Environmental stewardship	20
Programming	17
Manual dexterity, endurance and precision	14
Global citizenship	13
Sensory-processing abilities	6

Analytical Thinking Tops the List

At the very top of the rankings is analytical thinking, cited by 69% of employers as a “core skill”.

This skill underscores the growing demand for people who can solve complex problems, interpret data, and make reasoned decisions in uncertain environments. Due to rapid digital transformation, employers are placing a premium on cognitive ability and critical reasoning.

Soft Skills Round Out the Top Five

Resilience, flexibility, and agility ranks just below analytical thinking at 67%. Leadership and social influence, the third-ranked skill, reflects the need for people who can manage change and inspire teams.

These soft skills are becoming increasingly essential as companies navigate economic shifts, remote work, and cultural changes.

The combination of cognitive, self-efficacy and interpersonal skills within the top five emphasizes the importance ascribed by respondents to having an agile, innovative and collaborative workforce, where both problem-solving abilities and personal resilience are critical for success.
World Economic Forum

Technology and Lifelong Learning on the Rise

Technological literacy (51%) and curiosity and lifelong learning (50%) highlight the importance of staying updated in a fast-moving world.

AI and big data (45%) also made the top half of the list, signaling a shift toward digital fluency.

Meanwhile, traditional skills like reading, writing, and mathematics (21%) rank much lower, reflecting the rising importance of people’s technological capabilities.

Finding a Job is Harder Than Ever

As employers demand more, job seekers are seemingly having a tough time. According to a 2023 survey by Aerotek, 71% of people indicated that finding a job was harder than they expected.

Things could get even worse in the next few years, as AI job scams become more prevalent.

This refers to scammers who use artificial intelligence to alter their appearance and build fake profiles, creating the “perfect candidate” for an open role.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out The Best Colleges for High-Paying Finance Jobs on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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