Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For In 2023 | 2023 vs 2022

Four months into 2023 and the job market is constantly evolving, and employers are looking for candidates with the right mix of skills to meet the needs of their businesses. While traditional skills such as communication, problem-solving, and customer service continue to be essential, there are emerging skills that employers are looking for in 2023.

Top 10 skills employers are looking for:

1. Digital literacy: Employers are looking for candidates who can work effectively with digital tools, including software, applications, and online platforms.
2. Data analysis: Data has become an essential part of business operations, and employers are looking for candidates who can analyze and make sense of complex data sets. Proficiency in data analysis tools, such as Microsoft Excel, is becoming a must-have skill.
3. Adaptability: The ability to learn new skills, take on new responsibilities, and work in a dynamic environment is becoming increasingly important. In today's fast-paced work environment, employers are looking for candidates who can adapt to changing situations quickly.
4. Creativity: As businesses look for innovative ways to stay ahead of the competition, creativity is becoming a highly valued skill. Employers are looking for candidates who can think outside the box, generate new ideas, and bring a fresh perspective to the table.
5. Emotional intelligence: The ability to understand and manage one's emotions and the emotions of others, is becoming a critical skill for all employees. Employers are looking for candidates who can work well with others, show empathy, and build strong relationships.
6. Critical thinking: Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information to make informed decisions. Employers are looking for candidates who can think critically, ask the right questions, and come up with innovative solutions to complex problems.
7. Communication: Strong communication skills continue to be an essential skill for all employees. Employers are looking for candidates who can communicate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including clients, colleagues, and managers.
8. Leadership: Effective leadership is becoming increasingly important as businesses look to develop and retain their top talent. Employers are looking for candidates who can inspire and motivate others, set goals, and lead by example.
9. Cultural intelligence: Employers are looking for candidates who can navigate cultural differences and build strong relationships with people from different backgrounds. In today's world, having the opportunity to work from anywhere, creates flexibility in the workplace. The ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultural backgrounds is becoming a highly valued skill.
10. Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks, is becoming a highly valued skill in today's fast-paced work environment. Employers are looking for candidates who can persevere in the face of challenges, learn from failures, and keep moving forward.

"Every skill you acquire doubles your odds of success" - Scott Adams

Let's take a look at the top skills in 2022 and compare them to 2023. The skills that are still important for employers are critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and creativity. The focus on AI and machine learning is also expected to continue, with companies investing in automating their processes and improving their decision-making capabilities.

In conclusion, being able to adapt to the evolving job market and staying up to date with in-demand skills is beneficial for all involved. We know that employers are looking for candidates with a diverse range of skills to meet the needs of their businesses.

For candidates

Whilst there are still ongoing layoffs and job shortages around the world it is slowly starting to ease. When looking at your career keep the following in mind:

• Focus on your career ambitions: Reflect! Reflect! Reflect! Stay true to yourself and stay on track to what your goals are.
• Utilise free learning courses to keep your skills up to date: LinkedIn Learning, Youtube, etc
• Take the next step after applying for jobs:
  
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• Employee Value Proposition: Candidates are becoming quite savvy when applying to jobs, researching company history, and reaching out to previous/current employees. From a report it is evident that flexibility is still most important followed by work-life balance, compensation, and security.
• Accessibility to resources: With new skills emerging whilst markets change, ensure you are offering your employees the relevant tools and resources required to be successful in their roles. Whether you take a deeper dive into their onboarding, team up with external agencies for further insights etc.
• Upskilling employees: Those that moved internally are 76% more likely to stay with their current employer after two years.

Follow Lula Group for all your recruitment needs.