2.3. Future Skills The competences needed for the future must be readily transferred to different situations and different jobs. Meta-competences such as complex problem-solving, communication, creativity and collaboration, also known as ‘transversal skills’, ‘soft skills’ or ‘21st century skills’, are in great demand. According to the World Economic Forum (2020b), the top 15 skills for 2025 are as follows: Analytical thinking and innovation Active learning and learning strategies Complex problem-solving Critical thinking and analysis Creativity, originality and initiative Leadership and social influence Technology use, monitoring and control Technology design and programming 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility 10. Reasoning, problem-solving and ideation 11. Emotional intelligence 12. Troubleshooting and user experience 13. Service orientation 14. Systems analysis and evaluation 15. Persuasion and negotiation The list includes many skills associated with the 21st century skills, including both digital and human skills. According to Euromonitor (2022), developing digital and soft skills like emotional intelligence, resilience and creativity have become increasingly important for success in the future. For tourism and hospitality jobs in particular, the top 10 soft skills needed worldwide are: customer service, networking, communication, flexibility, organizational skills, language, commitment and multitasking skills along with can-do-attitude and cultural awareness (Giannotti, n.d). Many low-wage occupations with high human interaction, e.g., customer service, will offer little job growth, as AI and automation are adopted, making it necessary for the displaced workforce to switch occupations and upskill themselves in order to remain employed (McKinsey & Company, 2021). 16
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