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What to learn in 2026? - Marketable skills, trends and decision-making considerations

  • Apr 1
  • 8 min read

Skill-first trends, internal retraining and new jobs at the world's largest companies



In 2026, those skills that will remain marketable are those that combine technological fundamentals (AI, data interpretation, cybersecurity ) with analytical thinking, adaptability and continuous learning. The article was based on the World Economic Forum 2025 report and 2025 examples from large companies.


If you want to build knowledge in 2026 that will not only seem trendy, but will also be valuable in the labor market in the long term , then it is worth seeing two things clearly:

  1. which skills are really in demand,

  2. and how you can master them so that they become truly marketable.


The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 report and the examples of large companies that clearly show where the world of work is heading in 2026 will help you navigate this.


As technology has advanced at an ever-increasing pace, cyber threats have kept pace – or perhaps even outpaced it. However, the experience has been that cybersecurity knowledge and training has not reached the broadest possible audience, not only in terms of everyday knowledge but also in terms of professional training. (World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report 2025)


Table of contents

Why is it so difficult today to make good decisions about what to study and what career to start building?


Many people today are looking for a career path that:

  • financially more predictable,

  • provides opportunities for development and advancement,

  • and the knowledge acquired will not become obsolete in a few years.


Our younger students often get lost in the abundance of options and information , while more experienced professionals – for example, those with IT, finance, or other significant professional experience – often feel stuck, but a career change seems too risky.


It's important to know 👉 this uncertainty is not unique and should not be seen as a failure, but rather a sign that the world of work is changing faster than we can humanly adapt to it quickly and easily.

The WEF 2025 report – based on an analysis of more than 1,000 global employers and 14 million jobs – makes it clear: by 2030, the structure of the labor market will have significantly transformed.



Key global labor market trends from the beginning of 2025


According to the WEF 2025 report, the following mutually reinforcing processes are shaping the labor market:


  • Due to technological changes (the spread of AI or automation), the operations of most businesses will be transformed, which will affect almost all jobs.

  • Globally, 22% of jobs will transform within 5 years, many new jobs will be created based on new skills and many previous positions will disappear

  • The transition to more sustainable operations (adaptation to climate change and carbon reduction) will create a mass of new jobs, and green skills, which help companies operate more environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and sustainable, will provide a competitive advantage in the labor market.

  • The world's demographic divide is intensifying (in high-income countries, an aging society and labor shortages will continue to grow, while in lower-income countries, a young, growing working-age population will be more typical, but there will be few new jobs)

  • economic uncertainty and

  • Geopolitical tensions also significantly influence labor market trends.


The 2025 corporate and labor market news already nicely supports the above trends:


Walmart: Skills are more important than degrees


Walmart – the largest private employer in the US – is shifting to a skills-first strategy. It is not just asking for degrees, but also specific, measurable skills, applied knowledge and will start AI training for employees starting in 2026. ( Retail Dive, 2025 ) .

Lesson learned: what matters to big companies is what tasks you can actually perform , not where you studied.

Large Australian companies: Support employee development with AI academies


Major Australian companies – such as NAB Bank, Qantas, Wesfarmers and SGH – launched AI Academies in late 2025 to ensure that all employees understand how to use AI in their work and are not afraid of it. ( Qantas Newsroom, 2024 ; NAB – Technology & Digital Careers )

Lesson: the goal is not to replace people, but to prepare them for new tasks. ( Human Capital Magazine, 2025 )


What jobs will be in demand by 2030 and why?


Popular jobs have in common that:

  • they work with data,

  • they use some technology,

  • and do not consist of routine tasks


We have also provided some specific examples of such jobs , for which demand will continue to increase in 2026:


  • Big Data Specialist – business-readable conclusions from large amounts of data

  • AI / Machine Learning specialist – development and operation of learning systems

  • Software developer – because digitalization is far from over

  • FinTech engineer – automation and digitalization of financial processes

  • Renewable energy engineer – key players in the energy transition



Common point: these jobs are difficult to automate because they require specialized, highly professional thinking and unique, strategic decisions.



Routine jobs are already in decline


Common characteristics of the majority of jobs in decline:

  • routine,

  • rule-based,

  • consists of predefined steps.


Typical routine, repetitive jobs:

  • Administrative and office work (assistants, clerks – many tasks are performed by software)

  • Data capture and back office (OCR, automatic invoice processing)

  • Banking (online banking, automated credit assessment)

  • Commerce – cashier roles (self-service checkouts, digital payment)

  • Postal and traditional administration

Routine, rule-based office work will disappear faster than physical work, because machines will be able to perform predictable tasks first.


What skills will have real value in the job market between 2026-2030?


Core competencies


  • Analytical thinking - seeing data, information and situations in context, not just following instructions


  • Flexibility and adaptability - jobs are changing faster than formal training can keep up with them


  • Collaboration and communication - it is not only important for managers to be able to collaborate, convince, and manage conflict, this is now a basic expectation for all employees


  • Creative problem solving - helps find new solutions where automation no longer works


  • Self-awareness and intrinsic motivation - continuous learning and adaptation require internal drive


Skills for which the market demand is growing rapidly


  • AI and big data – it will be essential for employees to be able to understand the relationships behind data and to interpret and use them in everyday decisions – at a business, technical or organizational level


  • Cybersecurity knowledge - it becomes a fundamental skill, because vulnerability increases with digitalization, which requires greater awareness in the online space from both companies and employees


  • Technological knowledge - works confidently with digital tools, understands their limitations and possibilities


  • Creative thinking - in the age of AI, the value is given by open thinking, continuous development of thinking, so that the employee is able to ask new questions and come up with new solutions to new challenges


  • Lifelong learning - a basic condition: learning itself becomes a skill, because constant adaptation is strategically important

 

Recurrent competences


  • Routine administrative execution (e.g. data entry, form filling, basic document management) Such tasks consist of predefined steps, which is why software and AI-based systems perform them faster and with fewer errors.


  • Manual precision in repetitive tasks (e.g. performing precise but unchanging operations) Machines do not get tired, do not make mistakes. The real value will lie in the proper handling of exceptions and individual decisions.


  • Rule-based decision-making (“if this happens, then that should be done” logic) Simple decision rules can be applied much faster by algorithms. The human role is essential where consideration, interpretation or ethical decisions are required.


  • Basic numeracy and word processing skills (simple financial calculations, writing standard texts) Calculators, spreadsheets, and generative AI tools have made these skills entry-level.


  • Task-following execution without independent thinking (accurate but uncritical execution of instructions) The lack of independence has now become a significant business risk.



The following global market examples also support this trend, as the reorganization of jobs appears in various management decisions at larger companies:


Meta, Google, Amazon, Starbucks, Intel's 2025 reorganizations: alongside the reduction of administrative positions, skill-focused positions have opened up en masse


In 2025, global companies implemented workforce reductions and organizational restructuring. The common thread: administrative, coordination, and routine office roles are decreasing , while the demand is increasing:

  • data and business analysts,

  • for professionals who can use AI,

  • for employees who are knowledgeable about technology and digital products

What does this mean for you if you're thinking about a career change? If most of your work currently consists of organizing, reporting, and moving data, it's worth moving towards popular jobs, whether it's analyst or digital business roles.

The 2025 layoffs are not due to the economic crisis, but rather to organizational and operational transformation.


In 2025, more than 1 million jobs were lost worldwide, primarily in the technology, financial and corporate services sectors. Importantly, however, new positions opened up within the same companies , mainly in the areas of AI, data, cybersecurity and digital operations.

Career change lesson: The question is not "are there jobs?" but what skills are needed to fill the positions. Those who develop new, in-demand skills will fare better, not necessarily changing industries.


Reskilling and upskilling: in the business interest of companies


Companies like IBM, Amazon, Accenture, Siemens, and Microsoft will continue to invest heavily in internal reskilling programs in 2025 to help employees acquire new skills or improve existing ones. ( IBM SkillsBuild , The Economic Times of India, 2025 )


These aim to:


  • existing employees should be able to work with AI tools,

  • interpret data,

  • monitor digital processes.

What does this mean for career changers? In many cases, you don't need to learn a completely new profession — with a well-chosen skill set (e.g. data analysis, digital business knowledge) and continuous learning, you can move forward nicely.

The willingness to learn and innovate is a serious competitive advantage in today's labor market.


These are some things to keep in mind before making a career change :


✅ The world of work is changing, but it is not closing down, there will be work, but those who have adapted to the challenges of companies and developed themselves will be hired


✅ Changing careers is not a risk, but an adaptation strategy – it has now become clear that the world is changing relentlessly, and those who consciously adapt will stay in the game


✅ The biggest danger is procrastination - in this crazy fast-changing world, you have no room for procrastination, pay attention to trends and learn now, start today, because in 1 year you may miss the knowledge you could gain now.



Sources and background materials




 
 
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