YouGov spoke to senior decision makers across the IT and telecoms industry about the skills and characteristics that were most required in today’s workplace, and which of these would rise or fall in importance over the coming fifteen years.
And while skills including the ability to communicate (70% today/55% in 2033) and problem-solving (76%/66%); along with characteristics such as being productive (64%/53%) are perceived to be important now and in the future for those decision makers in the IT and telecoms industry (if falling somewhat in importance), other skills including being a data analyser (46%/51%), risk analysis (35%/36%) and strategic thinking (45%/50%) along with characteristics such as fearlessness (18%/21%), being opinionated (15%/16%) and being independent (34%/42%) appear set to accelerate in importance.
Mark Farrar, Chief Executive, AAT said: “If the decision makers we spoke to prove correct, then employees will need to better develop their data analysis skills over the coming years if they wish to charm their potential future workplace’s recruiters.
“The rise in importance of skills such as being a consultant and strategic thinking shouldn’t come as a huge surprise when we look at recent office evolution. When computers accelerated in use in the workplace for example, many people thought that this would lead to the decline of accountants and bookkeepers.
“However, automation has removed more mundane manual tasks, freeing them up to concentrate on the more interesting and added value areas of accountancy such as the production of management information and trend analysis.”
Fall in office working sees ‘team playing’ drop in importance
While certain skills and characteristics will rise in the future, managers in the IT and telecoms industry also reported that others would be less favourably looked upon due perhaps to the rise of artificial intelligence and flexible working leading to less employees actually being needed in the office.
Working well in a team (66%/50%) and listening (70%/54%) were among skills that are seen as holding diminished importance in fifteen years from now, while motivation (60%/56%), and accountability (49%/41%) were among characteristics that will be moved away from in tomorrow’s business world.