The world is constantly changing, and we need to adapt to these changes to succeed. Employment trends and the job market have changed significantly. Technology, world events, and climate change have impacted the needs of companies and governments. 

In this article, we explore the skills that will be in demand in 2023 and beyond. Thinking about a career and where to find a job are very important factors for international students when choosing a course and study destination. Knowing which skills and jobs will be in demand may help you decide which course to study. 

We look at the top eight skills. The first four are soft skills (the way you do a job), and the other four are hard skills (more job-specific). 

1 Communication skills

This involves not just speaking effectively, but many other factors such as active listening, adapting, friendliness, giving and receiving feedback, respect and understanding of body language. This skill is important in all forms of communication, such as job applications, interviews, meetings, emails and video conferencing.

What jobs require communication skills?

Good communication skills are vital in all jobs and positions. 

2 Emotional intelligence

Recognising and understanding your emotions and how they can affect people around you is an important skill to learn. This is true both in life and at work. A 2019 report, for example, found that ‘emotional intelligence is a relevant addition to guide the achievement of career success.’

This skill allows you to be a better communicator, problem-solver, and manager. It also helps to create better relationships with colleagues and clients. 

What jobs require emotional intelligence?

Arguably this skill is required in all jobs but in particular, Human Resources, management and any leadership roles. Studies have shown that emotional intelligence is key in transformational leadership. 

Transformational leaders engender flexibility and better teamwork and morale, leading to greater job satisfaction.

3 Cognitive flexibility

This is your brain’s ability to adapt to new, changing, or unplanned situations and events. It's also the ability to move from one task to another, from one way of thinking to a different way of thinking. All these require your brain and mental processes (cognition) to be flexible. 

What jobs require cognitive flexibility?

This skill is especially helpful for jobs requiring complex problem-solving or roles where strategic decision-making and planning are important. Most leadership and management roles require cognitive flexibility, as do creative jobs and highly stressful healthcare work such as nursing. 

4 Decision-making

The ability to make important decisions impacting individuals, groups, organizations, or a business is important in many areas of your personal and professional life. We all have to make decisions on many different levels every day of our lives. There are some professions, however, where this skill is essential. 

What jobs require decision-making skills?

This is just an example of a long list of careers and areas that require this skill:

• Judge
• Lawyer
• Chief Executive
• Health and medicine
• Pharmacology
• Headteacher

5 Coding

Coding is using programming language to instruct a computer system to act in a way that is required. Coders can also be called software engineers, software developers or computer programmers. There are subtle differences, but generally, the names are used interchangeably. 

Coders play a key role in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) of any new software application. They are employed by private and public sector organisations, in a wide range of fields and industries such as medicine and education. 

What jobs require coding skills?

Here are just a few careers:

• Web developer
• Mobile app developer
• Data scientist
• Game developer

6 Data Analysis

Data analysts collect and interpret data to help their organisation solve problems, plan, and answer questions. Data analysis is used by all companies in a wide range of industries, from business to science and government. 

The ability to analyse data is recognised as one of the major skills for 2023 and the foreseeable future. This is true of most industries but especially the green economy. 

‘A green economy is defined as low carbon, resource-efficient and socially inclusive.’ UN

A recent report found that the green economy in the UK, is four times larger than the manufacturing sector, and this growth will expand worldwide. 

What jobs require data analysis skills?

As already mentioned above, all industries and organisations require data analysts. You can then progress to being a senior data analyst or go on to specialise in each area and progress to being a Data Scientist. 

7 Cloud computing

What is cloud computing? ‘Simply put, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. You typically pay only for cloud services you use, helping you lower your operating costs, run your infrastructure more efficiently, and scale as your business needs change.’ Azure, Microsoft.

Cloud computing skills require knowledge of computer programming and platforms. It also requires the management of an integrated system and maintaining networks and databases among many other things.

What jobs require cloud computing skills?

• Cloud engineer
• Cloud consultant
• Cloud architect
• Data scientist

8 Digital marketing

This is the ability to use digital technology to place and sell products. Digital marketing skills required include, data analysis, project management, social media expertise, copywriting skills, and knowledge of customers and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). 

With the rapid growth in new technologies and global digitization, digital marketing skills are in high demand now and for the foreseeable future. 

What jobs require digital marketing skills?



• Digital Marketing Specialist
• Product Marketing Manager
• Social Media Strategist
• SEO Manager
• Head of Marketing