Recruiters say traditional skills declining as AI and tech rise over the next five years

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Tech and AI skills are predicted to be one of the most important skills for graduates to have in the next five years according to recruiters, finds a new survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).

‘Technology/IT’ skills are predicted to jump from the 14th most critical skill this year, to the third over the next five years. Additionally, on average recruiters say ‘AI’ skills are said to become the fourth most critical skill for graduates in the next five years, up from 21st. On the other hand, several traditionally valued skills, such as ‘teamwork’ and ‘project management’, are predicted by recruiters to decline in importance.

GMAC's annual Corporate Recruiters Survey gathers responses from global recruiters and staffing firms to identify the key skills they seek and anticipate prioritising in the coming years.

In addition to AI and technology/IT skills, ‘innovation’ is expected to rise in importance, becoming the sixth most important skill within the next five years, up from 11th today. Similarly, ‘grit’ (defined as a combination of passion, perseverance, resilience, and determination towards achieving long term goals) is predicted to increase in importance, moving up to rank ninth. 

‘Employers do not want to be left behind by an ongoing industrial revolution, one based on automations and more data,’ said Nalisha Patel, Europe regional director at GMAC.

‘This is driving the skills employers are expecting to prioritise. As AI and automation dominate business operations, expertise in these areas is vital for efficiency and competitiveness. Organisations are recognising that they need employees who can leverage these technologies effectively.

‘Recruiters are also adjusting their focus to address a more volatile global business environment, where resilience, adaptability and grit are essential.’

Meanwhile, ‘initiative’, once a highly prioritised trait, is predicted to decline in importance, moving from eighth to 16th. Similarly, ‘interpersonal and teamwork’ skills, which have historically been fundamental in workplace dynamics, are predicted to decrease significantly in importance, falling from fourth to 15th. ‘Time and project management’ skills are also expected to drop from seventh to becoming the 17th most valued skills in the workplace by employers.

‘These are very interesting findings, and of course we don’t know how these will impact different businesses or societal behaviour, but this shift is likely to reflect how AI and automation are taking over tasks once handled by human initiative and teamwork, reducing the emphasis on these traditional skills, and reshaping the skills prioritised by employers,’ explained Nalisha.

‘Equally, flexible work arrangements and automated project management solutions fundamentally change the team skills needed by graduates.’