If you want to stay in demand in the labor market, you should develop skills in areas such as artificial intelligence and big data. These advanced skills are highlighted by professionals as core competencies and indispensable.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released its eagerly awaited Future of Jobs Report 2025. It provides an insightful summary of the changing work landscape. Based on interviews with employees from 1'000 companies around the world, the report examines the skills that are seen as critical to today’s work environment, as well as those that will become more important over the next five years. While the results have already sparked significant debate, they also raise critical questions about the discrepancy between advanced technological competencies and basic capabilities.
AI and big data as core competencies
One of the report’s key findings is the increasing prioritization of competencies in areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data. These advanced capabilities are highlighted as core competencies essential for professionals in the digital economy. «There is, however, one conspicuous omission: fundamental subjects such as mathematics and programming seem to have been pushed into a secondary role in the hierarchy of competencies and are no longer considered to be in focus», explains Dr. Florian Weigert, Professor of Financial Risk Management at the University of Neuchâtel.
For him, this trend is both surprising and worrying. «How can you be an expert on AI and big data without having a deep understanding of the mathematical principles and programming skills that underpin these areas? The algorithms that power AI, the statistical models that enable predictive analysis, and the software engineering practices that turn concepts into working tools are all based on these fundamental disciplines.»
Risk due to lack of bases
Weigert warns: «As we reap the benefits of technological advances, we must be careful not to neglect the bases. Today’s focus on off-the-shelf tools and user-friendly platforms runs the risk of creating a generation of professionals who are highly dependent on ready-made solutions without fully understanding how they work. This superficial commitment to technology could impede innovation, limit problem-solving capacity and create vulnerabilities when systems fail or need to be adapted.»
Renewed focus on education is essential
To redress this imbalance, according to Weigert, a renewed focus on education is essential. Schools, universities, and training programs must ensure that basic skills – math, programming, and logic – are not overshadowed by a fascination with sophisticated applications. After all, the ability to think critically, design algorithms, and solve complex problems is the prerequisites on which technological expertise is based.
For Weigert, the Future of Jobs Report 2025 is a wake-up call. And Weigert warns, «Let us not lose sight of the bases as we strive for the next big thing. By prioritizing basic and emerging skills alike, we can ensure that our workforce is not only prepared for the jobs of tomorrow, but also able to actively shape the future.»