Top Skills Employers Look For in 2025 - What It Means for Education?

Should schools have more control over social media? How do teachers want to teach AI? What do employers really want today? And what does that mean for education? Aligning education with relevant skills is crucial for achieving long-term career success, as it helps students meet employer expectations and secure future job opportunities.

What big trends are shaping the future of learning and development? To future proof students' skill sets, education must adapt to rapid changes and ensure continuous upskilling. Industry trends, such as technological advancements and evolving professional standards, are driving these changes and shaping what employers expect from graduates.

AI plus empathy equals the perfect employee.

LinkedIn shares the new top skills. A new report from LinkedIn reveals the skills employers care about most right now—and two stand out at the top: AI literacy and conflict management. The rise of artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace, driving demand for new job skills and making analytical and creative thinking more critical for career resilience.

Here’s the full top 10 list from employers:

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  AI literacy

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  Conflict mitigation

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  Adaptability

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  Process optimization

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  Innovative thinking

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  Public speaking

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  Solution-based selling

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  Customer engagement and support

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  Stakeholder management

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  LLM development and application

These represent a mix of specific skills and broader skill sets that employers highly value.

So, what does this mean?

On one hand, tech skills are a must. Being able to use AI tools and understand how they work is now essential in many jobs, as artificial intelligence continues to shape the types of job skills employers are seeking. But just as important are soft skills—like staying calm under pressure, solving problems with people, and building good relationships. Having a relevant skill set that includes both technical and interpersonal abilities is crucial for professional growth.

Companies are now looking for hybrid talent—people who can use tech and tools but also listen, show empathy, and handle conflict. Digital literacy is now considered an important skill for most roles, as it enables employees to effectively use digital technologies and adapt to the modern workplace.

Employers are looking for job skills that are both specific to the role and transferable across different positions, emphasizing the need for versatility and adaptability.

Are schools and universities preparing students for these kinds of futures? Some are already taking steps in that direction, but there is a growing need to focus on relevant skills that align with current industry demands.

AI is here to stay in classrooms. But how should we teach it?

Most teachers now agree:

AI isn't going anywhere. It's going to be a big part of education in the future.

But the question is—how should we teach it?

Some experts want AI to be a part of the regular school curriculum. Others are more cautious, warning that we need to teach ethics, critical thinking, and responsibility—not just how to use tools.

And here's a big problem: many schools don't have clear guidelines or enough support for teachers who want to bring AI into the classroom.

Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow Initiative

A recent survey by Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and DonorsChoose showed that:

• 96% of public school teachers in the U.S. believe AI will be a normal part of education in the next 10 years.
• But 97% said they don't have the tools or resources they need to include AI in STEM classes.

To help, Samsung launched a program called Solve for Tomorrow Teacher Academy, which trains teachers in AI strategy, design thinking, and social entrepreneurship.
They also donated over $27 million in technology and classroom equipment to more than 4,000 schools. These programs aim to give teachers the tools they need to help students succeed in a tech-driven world.

TikTok bans in class

TikTok is now banned at Florida schools—on school district servers—and school districts are required to teach older students the dangers of social media.

Here's another hot topic: social media in schools.

More and more school districts in the U.S. are placing limits on how students use apps like TikTok during school hours. Some schools are using AI tools to monitor student activity. Others are pushing for changes in the law.

The goal: less distraction and better mental health.
But some people say this is risky—it could hurt students' privacy and trust.

So what's the better way forward?

Instead of banning everything, maybe we should focus on teaching students how to use social media wisely. This ties in with a bigger conversation: how to teach digital responsibility, not just digital skills.

Teachers are leading the AI revolution in schools.

It's not just tech startups pushing AI. In many schools, it's the teachers who are driving the change.

They are using AI to:

The goal is not to replace teachers, but to help them—and to give students better learning experiences.

Still, there are challenges:

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  What about bias in algorithms?

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  What if schools become too dependent on AI?

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  And most importantly, what role will teachers play in an AI-powered classroom?

We don't have all the answers yet.

One thing is clear: the shift has already started, and there is no going back to education before ChatGPT. Teachers and students are now adapting to a new world shaped by AI and technology, where collaboration, communication, and empathy remain essential skills.

What big trends are shaping the future of learning and development?

A new trend map by Ofbit highlights six megatrends that are changing the way people learn and grow at work and school:

• Human-AI synergy: People and AI working together.
• Human-centered organizations: Workplaces that care about well-being and development.
• Skill-based organizations: Focusing on skills, not job titles.
• Lifelong learning: Learning doesn't stop after school.
• Digital global organizations: Adapting to online and global workplaces.
• Learning organizations: Companies that keep learning and adapting.

To adapt to these megatrends, developing transferable skills, strong teamwork skills, and effective interpersonal skills is essential. In today’s global organizations and diverse workplaces, cultural competence is increasingly important for building respectful and productive relationships. Emphasizing creative thinking and the ability to generate new ideas is crucial for driving innovation and staying competitive in rapidly changing industries. Additionally, complex problem solving is a key skill for navigating the challenges presented by human-AI synergy and skill-based organizations.

Making the development of these abilities a top priority will help individuals prepare for the future of work.

Final thoughts

These trends show us where the future is heading and why we all need to stay flexible, creative, and ready to learn. Good communication skills, including strong written communication, are also essential for success in the evolving workplace, helping you convey ideas clearly and build effective relationships.