IN many surveys, business leaders have identified what they want in their current and future employees: technological skills, social skills, and a deep understanding of their business.
More business processes will be technology-driven. To succeed in careers now and in the future, you must have a working familiarity with the technology used in your organization.
Technological skills refer to the “abilities that help you interact with the digital world around you. Being technologically-skilled means you are proficient in digital or technical media.”
Career opportunities abound in many countries for techno-savvy persons. The tech landscape in the United Kingdom, for instance, is characterized by robust investment, continuous innovation, and expansive growth. But careers are “transformative and fast-paced, requiring a commitment to upskilling and reskilling.”
The London School of Economics noted that, at the start of 2024, “the UK tech sector achieved a remarkable milestone, reaching a combined market valuation of $1.1 trillion, reaffirming its position as the largest tech ecosystem in Europe, and the third largest globally.”
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With the fast pace of technology, roles are “evolving quicker than ever before. We’re entering the age of artificial intelligence, and the top 10 most in-demand tech careers have a distinct AI skills trend. In the UK, 16 percent of all venture capital funding in 2023 was directed towards AI startups, which underscores the importance of AI-related skills in the evolving job market.”
Top tech jobs
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Two reputable sources have researched and determined the top tech jobs that are in demand in many parts of the world.
The London School of Economics has analyzed the trends in tech careers and has listed the most in-demand jobs in 2024. The top 10 tech jobs are: AI and machine learning engineers; data analysts and scientists; cybersecurity analyst; cloud engineers; DevOps engineers; full-stack developers; blockchain engineers; UX/UI product designers; product managers; and network and systems administrators.
Jonny Grange, marketing manager at tech recruitment agency Digital Waffle, listed the top 10 tech skills most in-demand in 2024, and their new job titles:
1) Artificial intelligence – AI engineer, AI researcher, data scientist (AI Focus), machine learning engineer, deep learning engineer
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2) Cybersecurity — information security analyst, cybersecurity analyst, security engineer, chief information security officer (CISO), security architect
3) Cloud computing — cloud architect, cloud engineer, cloud developer, cloud security specialist, cloud operations manager
4) Data science — data scientist, machine learning engineer, data analyst, data engineer, data science manager
5) Machine learning — machine learning engineer, machine learning developer, robotics engineer, natural language processing (NLP) scientist, machine learning software architect, data scientist
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6) Dev/Ops (software development and IT operations) — DevOps engineer, DevOps specialist, cloud engineer, release manager, site reliability engineer (SRE)
7) Full-stack development — Full-stack developer, web developer, software engineer, front-end developer, back-end developer
8) Blockchain — blockchain developer, blockchain architect, blockchain consultant, cryptocurrency analyst, smart contract developer
9) Natural language processing (NLP) — NLP researcher, NLP analyst, NLP scientist, NLP engineer, conversational AI developer
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10) Augmented reality and virtual reality — AR/VR developer, XR (extended reality) designer, 3D modeler, virtual reality engineer, augmented reality specialist
Soft skills
The World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs” Report suggested that professionals should also develop their soft skills to enhance existing technical expertise.
The Harvard Division of Continuing Education has developed a list of Top 10 emerging soft skills for professionals. (Harvard Professional and Executive Development, Feb 24, 2025)
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1) Analytical thinking and innovation — Even as AI and automation take over some jobs, analytical thinking will always be needed. Build on logic to create inventive solutions.
2) Active learning and learning strategies — Seek out and digest new information. Stay curious and open-minded to learn new things.
3) Creativity, originality, and initiative — Hone your imagination, turn your creativity into an asset. Translate imagination into action.
4) Learning to design and program — Learn basic technology skills. You need this to communicate with others in the digital world.
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5) Critical thinking and analysis — It’s a skill you can hone by practicing in your daily task. Think strategically and see the big picture.
6) Complex problem-solving — Take on the biggest problems early on; challenge your convictions; pay attention to your instinct; break down multifaceted issues into digestible pieces.
7) Social influence — Leadership is about leaning more on human capital, encouraging ambition to motivate your team, and taking your managerial prowess to new heights.
8) Emotional intelligence — Gain traction on a global scale by relating well with other cultures, anticipating people’s needs, and being conscious of your self-perception in influencing others.
9) Reasoning and decision-making — Using logic, and a questioning mind, understand the needs of the organization and the people, then make the right decisions.
10) Systems thinking and evaluation — Understand the business and how the systems operate. Look at problems and issues from the perspective of the system.
AI will do much of the work, but not everything. Human skills are still needed to manage change, respond to ethical questions, and develop more collaborative solutions – with empathy, compassion, and humanity.
Human intuition and creativity will never run out of style.
Ernie Cecilia, DPM, is chairman of the Human Capital Committee and the Publications Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham); chairman of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines’ (ECOP) TWG on Labor and Social Policy Issues; and past president of the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP). He can be reached at [email protected]
