Skills for 2030

As trends such as globalization and advances in artificial intelligence change the demands for the labor market, workers need to cultivate new skills to succeed. The OECD Learning Compass identifies three different types of skills that will be key in 2030: cognitive and meta-cognitive skills, social and emotional skills, and physical and practical skills.

The research method involved analyzing trends in globalization, technological advancements, and their impact on the labor market. It also included examining the role of education in developing necessary skills, particularly social and emotional skills, for future success.

The OECD report outlines the evolving skill sets required for the 2030 labor market, highlighting the importance of cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and practical skills. As globalization and artificial intelligence reshape jobs, uniquely human capacities like creativity and lifelong learning become crucial. Social and emotional skills are increasingly necessary in diverse educational and professional environments, impacting school achievement and workplace success. Arts education is noted for its unique cognitive development benefits and fostering empathic intelligence. The report stresses the need for continual skill acquisition, flexibility, and a positive attitude towards lifelong learning. It also suggests that social and emotional skills can be as important as cognitive skills for responsible citizenship. The OECD Learning Compass 2030 framework is referenced as a guide for developing these competencies.

• Computer technologies have created new employment opportunities for workers with non-routine cognitive skills, such as creativity, and social and emotional skills.
• To remain competitive, workers will need to acquire new skills continually
• Social and emotional skills can be equally important as cognitive skills in becoming a responsible citizen

A key assumption of this report is that artificial intelligence will not be able to compete with human creativity. Therefore, students and lifelong learners should focus on creative thinking as a key skill to stay competitive in the job market. However, since this reports publication, technologies such as large language models and image generation tools have become mainstream and are disrupting creative industries¹⁾.

Categories: Future of work | 2030 time horizon | 2030s time horizon | artifical intelligence