According to a new report, the top skills for the 2030s ′s job market don’t require a traditional degree.
Instead, job seekers can boost their wages by mastering skills like creative thinking, AI and self-awareness.
Based on data from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report and the Burning Glass Institute’s Credential Value Index, AI resume-building platform Resume Now identified the fastest-growing job skills for the next five years, as well as the skill certifications that provide the largest wage boosts.
According to Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now, the report’s findings demonstrate that “preparing for the future of work does not necessarily require a four-year degree.”
“Short-term, targeted credentials can have a real impact on earnings and career mobility,” he says.
In his view, upskilling and professional development are critical tools for today’s job market.
“Workers who continually update their abilities are more likely to stay relevant, move up, and access better opportunities,” he says.
Additionally, taking specific courses related to key skills will “provide clear evidence to employers that a skill has been mastered,” Spencer says.
According to Resume Now, these are the fastest-growing skills to have on your resume — and the skill certifications that provide the largest wage boosts.
Resume Now highlights 11 different certifications at various price ranges from platforms like Coursera and IBM. The courses have not been independently vetted by CNBC Make It.
1. AI and Big Data
Projected growth by 2030: 90%
Top certification: SQL for Data Analytics (Udemy)
Wage boost: $6,800
2. Technological Literacy
Projected growth by 2030: 69%
Top certification: Basic Skills and Developmental/Remedial Education (IBM)
Wage boost: $3,600
3. Resilience, Flexibility, and Agility
Projected growth by 2030: 68%
Top certification: The Agile Leader (eCornell)
Wage boost: $1,800
4. Creative Thinking
Projected growth by 2030: 68%
Top certification: Business Innovation (Ideo U)
Wage boost: $7,100
5. Leadership and Social Influence
Projected growth by 2030: 65%
Top certification: Women in Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change (Case Western Reserve University via Coursera)
Wage boost: $3,700
6. Analytical Thinking
Projected growth by 2030: 60%
Top certification: Critical Thinking Skills for the Professional (The University of California, Davis via Coursera)
Wage boost: $4,900
7. Curiosity and Lifelong Learning
Projected growth by 2030: 57%
Top certification: The Growth Mindset (The University of California, Davis via Coursera)
Wage boost: $2,900
8. Empathy and Active Listening
Projected growth by 2030: 54%
Top certification: Emotional Intelligence at Work (Udemy)
Wage boost: $6,000
9. Talent Management
Projected growth by 2030: 54%
Top certification: Integrated Talent Management (ATD)
Wage boost: $4,800
10. Systems Thinking
Projected growth by 2030: 52%
Top certification: Systems Thinking in Public Health (Johns Hopkins University via Coursera)
Wage boost: $2,400
11. Motivation and Self-Awareness
Projected growth by 2030: 50%
Top certification: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Certification
Wage boost: $1,400
While technological skills are certainly in demand, employers still prize “human-centred skills” like leadership and creativity, according to Spencer.
“We all expect areas like AI and data to dominate, but it was striking to see creative thinking and emotional intelligence near the top,” he says.
The report indicates that “employers still value the uniquely human abilities that machines cannot replicate,” Spencer says.
“Employers know technology will continue to change rapidly, and as a result, they are prioritising people who can learn, pivot and lead through uncertainty.”
Demonstrating your interest in learning new skills will make your resume stand out, Spencer says.
“It signals curiosity, drive and resilience, which are traits that can matter as much as the specific skills themselves,” he says.
