What do you think is the most essential skill for you to learn this year?

Spoiler alert, it’s not AI.

The World Economic Forum recently ranked the top in-demand skills that are rising to the forefront, from their survey of more than 1,000 global employers across 22 industries, who cite talent gaps for these specific skills. Although artificial intelligence and big data is the number one skill on the rise, the core skill employers mention as essential in today’s workforce is actually analytical thinking.

This skill is flanked by resilience, flexibility, and agility, followed by leadership skills and social influence coming in at third place. These are the skills you’ll need to learn in 2025 for your career to be future-proofed and for you to make more money and have access to more growth opportunities.

Wondering why AI or technical skills isn’t listed in the top three core skills?

The probable reason why between 60% to 69% of employers rank these skills so highly is that without them, technical and digital literacy are pointless.

Sure, you can learn generative AI. But without being able to analyze data, you can’t effectively implement it within your workflow or organization. Without resilience and an agile mindset, you won’t feel the need to upskill or adapt your approach to using tech at work, because you’ll be stuck in outdated methods, making yourself irrelevant to today’s job market and needs. And finally, without leadership skills and social influence, you’ll fail to drive change within your role, and you can even cast a bad light on the organization you work for.

5 Apps To Learn Skills That Future-Proof Your Career In 2025

Now the next question is, how do you find the time to learn these core, in-demand skills, when you’re already bombarded with emails, meetings, and irrelevant tasks at work?

That’s where apps come in. You can keep up with the continually evolving skills demand by utilizing the aid of technology to keep your skills sharp, even when you’re on the go. Here are some recommended apps you can download today:

1. Rhetoric–The Public Speaking Game

Rhetoric was created by John Zimmer, a 9-time European champion of Toastmasters speaking contests, as well as a TEDx speaker. Great for practicing your speaking skills—which are integral to leadership and social influence.

2. Primer App, By Google

This Android app teaches marketing in bitesize lessons.

3. Knowable

Knowable hosts 15-minute audio lessons that teach a range of skills from communication, to leadership and management, to entrepreneurship, to personal branding, and much more.

4. Mindvalley

Mindvalley teaches personal and professional growth and adaptability skills, including meditations to help you master resilience.

5. Brilliant

This is an app that teaches analytical thinking skills through interactive challenges.

By using these apps, even if it’s just for 15 minutes each day, you’re taking small, manageable steps that will help boost your career’s resilience and growth, and ensure that you’re in high demand for business and career opportunities.

FORBES