You are not the only one who has felt that technology moves faster than your job description. As workplaces move towards automation, AI, and cloud-based systems, many professionals feel pressured to “keep up”. You don’t have to become an expert in tech overnight. To stay confident, relevant and future-ready, you only need to have the right emerging technology skills.
Have you noticed how fast tools are upgraded at work? How often do you see new dashboards, applications or project tracking tools? It is for this reason that upskilling is more important than ever.
We’ll look at seven essential tech skills that every employee today needs and how these will impact your career over the next few decades.
These tech skills are important today
Digitalization is a trend across all industries. McKinsey 2020 states that in the next five years, 70 percent of jobs will require digital competency. Even traditionally non-technical roles now rely on data tools and online collaboration.
Some real-world signals
- You can’t complete a simple job without using at least two tools.
- Managers are looking for faster decision-making supported by data.
- The hybrid work environment requires better communication and virtual coordination.
Are you looking to secure your future career? These skills should be your top priority.
What are the seven emerging tech skills that every employee needs?
Here is a table that explains what each skill is and why it’s important for your career.
| Skill | Why it Matters | What it helps you do |
| Data Literacy | Data is the basis for all business decisions | Understanding dashboards will help you identify trends and make better decisions. |
| AI Understanding | Nearly every team has AI tools | Automate repetitive tasks to boost productivity |
| Cybersecurity Awareness | The digital threat is on the rise | Avoid costly mistakes by protecting company information |
| Cloud Computing Basics | Cloud computing is a growing trend for businesses | Collaboration from anywhere allows you to work faster. |
| Digital Project Management | Coordination of teams is required for hybrid work | Plan, track and deliver on time |
| Low code or No Code Tools | Businesses want quicker solutions | Create simple apps to automate tasks and build them without any coding |
| Collaboration Tools Mastery | Teams are becoming more dispersed | Effective communication across locations |
1. Data Literacy
You don’t need to be an expert in data science. Data literacy is simply the ability to read numbers, understand basic charts, and make decisions based on patterns.
A relatable example
Consider the dashboards that you receive each week. Data literacy allows you to quickly identify what’s improving, what’s slowing down, and where action needs to be taken, without having the need to guess.
Gartner estimates that by 2025, 80 percent of all roles will require some sort of data interpretation (Gartner).
2. Understanding Artificial Intelligence
AI is everywhere. It already helps you in the background, from email filtering and automated summaries.
Have you used an AI tool to write a summary for a brief time or have you asked a chatbot a question? This is AI at work.
Understanding the basics will help you to use AI tools with confidence, instead of feeling overwhelmed.
Future prediction: Employees who are familiar with AI will be able to complete tasks up to 40% faster in the next three-year period than those who only use manual methods.
3. Cybersecurity Awareness
Cybersecurity is more than just a technical issue. A single wrong click could put the entire business at risk.
A simple example
Someone on your team may receive a suspicious link. Clicking on it without thinking could reveal sensitive data. Every employee can prevent these incidents by educating themselves on cybersecurity.
Fact to know: Nearly 88 percent (IBM, 2023) of all data breaches are caused by human error.
4. Cloud Computing Basics
Platforms such as AWS, Azure and Google Cloud are used by most organizations. Cloud is simply storing files and systems online, rather than on your computer.
Have you ever accessed a file shared by a colleague instantly while working from home? Cloud computing is at work for you.
Future insight: Cloud-based roles will grow by 25% in 2027. This includes non-technical functions.
5. Digital Project Management
The way teams work has been transformed by hybrid work. The tasks are distributed. Virtual meetings are held. The deadlines are getting tighter.
Trello, Jira and Asana are all tools that help teams to stay on track. You can better plan, monitor and deliver your work by learning digital project management.
Using digital PM tools, companies report an improvement of up to 35 per cent in delivery speed.
6. Low code or No code tools
You can create simple apps, forms and automated workflows using these tools without having to write code. These tools are ideal for professionals who need to solve problems quickly.
Mini story
Imagine automating a process of approval that takes three days. You could reduce the time to just a few hours with a tool that doesn’t require any code.
Future Trend: By 2026, it is expected that low-code tools will handle more than 60 percent of all new applications (Forrester 2030).
7. Collaboration Tools Mastery
The virtual world of work is now more prevalent than ever. Teams can communicate using platforms such as Teams, Slack or Zoom.
You know the importance of collaboration tools if you’ve ever had trouble finding a document that someone “shared” last week.
Teamwork is improved by using the right tools. This reduces delays, and everyone remains on track.
How edForce.co can help you develop these skills
Most professionals are aware that they need to upgrade their skills, but don’t know where to start. Platforms such as edForce.co can help by providing structured learning paths that are tailored to real industry requirements. They are designed for professionals in the workplace, so lessons are easy to understand, practical and can be immediately applied at work.
Learn what today’s companies want, not old-fashioned theories.
How to start your tech upskilling journey
- Learn one skill at a time instead of trying to learn everything.
- Make weekly goals to ensure your learning is consistent
- Use each new skill to strengthen it at work
- Join in team discussions to learn about real-world use cases.
- Update your resume and track your progress regularly
- Keep up with the latest workplace technologies
It is about advancing your career, but it’s also about upgrading your skills. Upskilling is not just about career growth.
Key Takeaways
- The need for new tech skills is not limited to IT.
- Focus on data, AI, cloud, and collaboration tools
- Even small improvements in technology can boost productivity
- Digital transformation will be rapid across all industries in the next three to five year.
- Employees can gain future-focused skills by using learning platforms such as edForce.co