10 Skills Employers Most Want in 2024

Posted in SSZ Briefings  ·  July 5th 2016

Are you skilled at collaborative problem-solving and decision-making? Can you effectively communicate with colleagues and stakeholders? These are the top skills on the wish lists of UK employers when selecting candidates for their teams. Following closely is the ability to articulate ideas verbally, both internally and externally within the organization. While technical expertise remains valuable, it takes a backseat to essential skills like teamwork, problem-solving, effective communication, and adept work planning and prioritisation.

Most Sought-after Degrees

A recent survey conducted by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) shed light on the preferences of recruitment managers for the class of 2024. While the survey pool was relatively small, comprising responses from 260 employers, the trends are evident. The top three degrees in demand for the class of 2024 are business, engineering, and computer science and information technology. However, irrespective of the field, employers prioritize candidates with strong teamwork and problem-solving abilities.

Top 10 Desired Skills

Based on employer feedback, here are the top 10 skills sought after in candidates, ranked by importance:

  1. Ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment
  2. Proficiency in decision-making and problem-solving (joint ranking)
  3. Strong verbal communication skills for internal and external interactions
  4. Effective planning, organisation, and task prioritisation capabilities
  5. Aptitude for gathering and synthesising information
  6. Competency in analysing quantitative data
  7. Technical expertise relevant to the job role
  8. Mastery of various computer software applications
  9. Skill in crafting and editing written reports
  10. Capacity to persuade and influence others effectively

This survey underscores a consistent theme observed in numerous studies over the years: employers prioritise universal, transferable skills that empower individuals to excel across diverse roles and industries.

#EmployabilitySkills #UKJobs,#CareerSkills #WorkplaceSkills #TeamworkSkills #ProblemSolving #CommunicationSkills #DecisionMaking #EmploymentTrends #FutureOfWork


Back to blog home