4.05 What skills will we need in 2030?

The year 2030 may feel like the distant future, but it's just five years away, and the skills we need by then are already shifting. Drawing on the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, we explore which capabilities will matter most for individuals, teams, and organisations. Unsurprisingly, AI and big data dominate the list, but what stood out to us was how essential human-centred skills, like resilience, flexibility, curiosity and emotional intelligence, are set to surge in importance.These so-called “soft skills” are not easy; they’re hard to teach, hard to measure, and hard to master. But they are crucial. We discuss what this means for leaders, HR teams and individuals - whether it’s how we train, how we recruit, or how we think about our own career development. We also explore how skills like systems thinking, motivation, and social influence connect to broader strategic leadership, especially in a volatile, uncertain world.This episode is a useful evidence-backed prompt to rethink how we value and develop the less tangible, yet deeply impactful, skills that will define success in the decade ahead.Key Points Discussed:The most in-demand skills by 2030 from the WEF Future of Jobs ReportWhy “soft skills” are in fact hard, and increasingly essentialThe rise of resilience, agility, and self-efficacy as strategic capabilitiesWhy curiosity may be the most underrated leadership traitThe need for a T-Shaped approach - breadth, not just depthThe concept of a Renaissance mindset and its relevance in the AI eraHow leaders can support team development in a rapidly changing worldThe implications for recruitment, L&D and individual career planningKey Takeaway:AI and tech skills will be crucial, but so will human skills. Strategic leaders must rethink how they prioritise, train, and support so-called “soft skills” such as resilience, curiosity and agility.Link to World Economic Forum Report (go to page 41 for the matrix we talk about)https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Strategic Leader podcast. If you enjoyed the show, please give is 5 stars! It will help others find the show.Check out our previous episodes and remember to subscribe so you don’t miss our future shows.If you have any questions or want to discuss anything, we’d love to hear from you:www.gemmabullivant.co.uk (for Gemma)www.wearegoodthinking.co.uk (for Fi)