Get ready before 2026 by exploring 5 key Soft Skills that schools may not teach, including Empathy, Cultural Intelligence (CQ), and GenAI Literacy. Check which skills will help you succeed in the AI age.
The world is moving faster than educational curricula. This statement seems true as we approach 2026, the year when artificial intelligence (AI) will play a role in every industry, raising the crucial question: "What skills must humans master to avoid unemployment?"
Reports from the World Economic Forum (WEF) and global employment trends clearly show that degrees and academic knowledge (Hard Skills) open doors, but what determines who "moves forward" are Soft Skills — emotional and social abilities that AI still struggles to replicate. Thairath Online summarizes 5 emerging future skills you need to urgently add to your portfolio.
In an era where the "office" is a screen and colleagues may be located on opposite sides of the world, Cultural Intelligence (CQ)—the ability to adapt and collaborate with people from different cultures—is crucial. Ninety percent of senior executives from 68 countries state that "cross-cultural management" is the top challenge in work during the Global Connectivity era.
This skill involves more than language; it includes understanding different customs, mindsets, and values (Diversity & Inclusion) to reduce conflicts and enable smooth collaboration in global teams.
With overwhelming information (Information Overload) and fake news spreading faster than viruses, critical thinking is a vital defense. Seventy-three percent of organizations report that the demand for "Creative Thinking" and analytical skills will continue rising over the next five years, essential for decisions AI cannot make.
Don’t misunderstand this as a Hard Skill only for programmers. By 2025, GenAI Literacy (digital and AI intelligence) will become the "third language" for workers in every field, whether marketers, writers, or HR professionals.
Schools may teach coding, but workplaces need people who have:
According to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index, 82% of executives want employees with AI skills, but few currently feel confident. Seventy-two percent of organizations worldwide plan to increase budgets for GenAI investments and employee skill development in 2025, making AI competency a fundamental skill.
In the BANI world (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) filled with fragility and uncertainty, the last core skill schools rarely teach is Resilience (mental flexibility). Forty-four percent of current core skills employees possess will be "disrupted" or require change within five years. Resilience is the sole shield helping workers survive these transformations.
The smarter technology becomes, the more valuable the human "heart" grows. Empathy—the ability to understand others—is the key factor that makes humans superior to robots, especially in service, healthcare, and team management. Emotional and social skills demand is projected to grow 26% by 2030, outpacing physical skills.
The year 2026 is not the end of human work but the start of an "evolution." Excelling in Hard Skills may get you into interview rooms, but these 5 Soft Skills will decide if you get the job, promotion, and become an indispensable leader. Start assessing which skills you lack today and fill those gaps before the world moves ahead without you.
Source: World Economic Forum (Future of Jobs Report), LinkedIn Learning Workplace Learning Report, Gartner, McKinsey.