Global Skills in High Demand (and How to Position Yourself for Them)

The way we work is ever-changing, with the emergence of new roles, the reshaping of old roles to suit modern technology, and the adaptability of skill sets also changing consistently. Your current goal is to position yourself to be a high-demand individual. 

If you want to remain re-hirable and grow through the ranks in this swirl, there are two truths to accept: technical skills matter, and so do human skills.

In this article, we’ll guide you through technical and people skills that are in high demand right now and give practical, no-nonsense ways to position yourself for them.

What does the workforce want? 

Recent global studies and industry reports make the pattern clear: employers want people who combine tech fluency (especially AI and data literacy) with strong interpersonal and cognitive skills like problem-solving, communication, and adaptability. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights skills such as analytical thinking, creativity, leadership and AI/data literacy as among the fastest-rising needs.

LinkedIn and workplace learning research also show rapid skill shifts. Job skill sets have changed dramatically over the last decade and are expected to continue evolving as AI and automation reshape tasks. Employers are moving toward skills-based hiring: they’re looking for concrete capabilities over degrees alone.

While there has been some panic about AI taking away jobs and specific roles becoming redundant with the popularity and integration of AI into workspaces, the OECD argues that a blend of technology and human skills gives several workforces an edge.   

Global skills in high demand

We have grouped this into three categories for you. 

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1) Tech & data fluency

• AI literacy / prompt engineering / GenAI tools — AI tools like ChatGpt, Gemini, Deeepseek, and more are helping a lot of employees with productivity and increasing output, and employers expect workers to use AI productively rather than fear it. Basic knowledge of how models work and how to use AI as a productivity tool is now a competitive edge. Content writers, engineers, and anyone in need of quick ideas or solutions rely on AI to improve their deliverability.
  
  
• Data literacy & analytics — Data is power, and the ability to read, interpret, and tell stories that matter with data is very powerful. The interpretation and use of data are helpful across different roles to support workforce development. Marketing, product, business teams and more depend on data to optimise the company’s growth. 

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• Digital product & cloud fundamentals — Whatever team you work on, you’d understand the need for digital collaboration tools like Notion, Google Docs, and workflow tools. Basic dev ops or low-code/no-code systems are also helpful in most roles.
  
  

2) Cognitive & problem solving 

• Analytical and critical thinking — Knowing how to analyse and critically break down information is a must-have for every employee. Someone on the team must know how to break problems into solvable parts and choose evidence-based solutions. The more people on your team handle thoughts and tasks critically, the faster the growth of the team and company at large.
  
  
• Creative thinking — Even with AI helping with productivity and idea generation, humans are still better than AI at original, emotionally resonant creativity. Demand for creative roles is even rising despite AI. Roles like UX design, digital marketing, and more are still better managed and executed through creative thinking.
  
  

3) People & adaptability skills 

• Communication & collaboration — You don’t want to be the person at work no one can talk to. Tone matters, and personality matters as well in human interactions. How people communicate is still a high consideration when employers hire. 

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• Leadership — Not everyone on the team is a manager, but everyone should be able to own and manage every task assigned to them. Leadership means influencing without authority, guiding teams, and shaping outcomes. Leadership and social influence are growing in importance.
  
  
• Resilience and adaptability — Lifelong learning is a must-have skill for anyone who wants to grow in their career, and that’s why, as a freelancer or employee, you have to be adaptable and resilient with the advantage of pivoting when the opportunity presents itself.  

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How to position yourself as a global talent

You work in Lagos but want to be employed in Canada as a global talent; here are practical ways for you. 

1) Pick one T-shaped profile and build it

Choose a vertical technical skill and a horizontal human skill—example: Data analysis (vertical) + storytelling/communication (horizontal). The T-shape makes you specialised and broadly valuable.

Action: Complete a capstone project (3–6 weeks) where you analyse a dataset and present insights in a short blog post or slide deck. Share on LinkedIn and tag relevant communities. This creates evidence,  not just claims  of skill.

2) Learn with micro-credentials that employers recognise

There are several courses you can take in your spare time on platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning and more. Determine your timeline and ensure the courses give you a certificate and, ideally, a real project you can show. 

3) Use AI as a skill multiplier 

Don’t just learn to use ChatGPT or similar tools;  document how you used them to get work done (e.g., to draft a report outline, automate repetitive tasks, or prototype prompts for product copy). Add a short “Tools I use” section on your CV/LinkedIn (e.g., “AI-assisted data storyboarding, prompt engineering for marketing copy”). 

4) Build a visible portfolio 

Beyond traditional CVs and resumes, portfolios are also very important when documenting your work. Writers, marketers, designers and more should have portfolios.  For non-traditional roles, a portfolio can be: case studies, before/after project summaries, short videos of you presenting a project, or a thread on a recent problem you solved. Even a tiktok video will do. The goal: concrete proof. 

5) Demonstrate soft skills with outcomes

Instead of listing “good communicator,” give a one-line proof: “Led cross-functional team of 6 to deliver X, improving Y by 23%.” Numbers + context beat adjectives. Use references and recommendations that highlight teamwork, influence, and adaptability.

6) Network intentionally 

Join industry Slack/Discord groups, contribute to GitHub (for tech), comment on Substack/Medium in your niche, and attend a relevant meetup monthly. Active contribution is often the fastest path to opportunity.

7) Document your learnings

Every month, write down: what you learned, what you built, and one metric showing impact. This makes performance visible in interviews and reviews, great for proof of continuous learning. 

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What recruiters are actually doing 

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• Many employers are shifting to skills-based hiring — they screen for tasks and deliverables, not just degrees. So use tests, take-home assignments, and portfolio links to pass their filters.
• Organisations report trouble finding hybrid profiles (tech + management). If you can operate at that intersection, you’ll be rare and valuable.
  
  

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Quick 6-month roadmap you can copy

Month 1: Choose your T-shape and a capstone idea.
Month 2–3: Take a focused micro-credential and build the capstone.
Month 4: Publish the capstone as a case study and promote it.
Month 5: Apply the learning at work or in a volunteer project; collect metrics.
Month 6: Update LinkedIn/CV + ask for two recommendations that highlight your new skills.

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Skill sets that won’t go out of style

Curiosity, clarity of communication, and the ability to solve problems elegantly will outlast specific tools. The next time a shiny new technology (or AI) arrives, the people who adapt, who can learn quickly and show impact, will be sought after. Invest in that adaptability with visible proof, and you’ll be ready for whatever the job market throws next. 

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