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Will your degree skills be relevant in 10 years?

Close up shot of moulded shapes in a variety of pastel colours
The Street inside Granary Square, King's Cross building ©John Sturrock
Written by
Creative Opportunities
Published date
21 March 2024

Thinking about the future of jobs can be exciting! With all the talk about AI and new technologies, it’s hard to imagine what jobs will be like in 10 years. 

According to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), jobs are changing because of new technology like AI and big data. The WEF’s Global Skills Taxonomy says these skills will be important between 2023 and 2027: 

Analytical thinking 

Creative thinking 

Resilience (flexibility and agility) 

Motivation (self-awareness) 

Curiosity (lifelong learning) 

Technological literacy

Dependability (attention to detail) 

Empathy (active listening) 

Leadership (social influence)

Being creative is becoming even more important than being good at analysing things. As more jobs become automated, skills like being confident and working well with others are becoming important too. 

Companies want people who can solve tricky problems and who are good at using new technology. They also want resilient and reflective workers as reskilling and upskilling become common practice.   

Ethical skills are also sought after, with 68% of companies believing that consumers will drive transformation within their organization over the next five years by being more vocal on social and environmental issues. 

So, what does this mean for UAL students and grads? Your creative training is a great start! Most of the sought after skills predicted by the WEF are those you’re already learning at UAL! 

Change is coming, but it’s also a chance for you to find new opportunities and grow. Even though the WEF has ideas about what’s important, it’s up to you to figure out what works best for you. And remember, you and your classmates will be the ones shaping the future of work! 

If you are looking for opportunities to gain experience to start your career, why not check out Creative Opportunities? Run by Careers and Employability, it is the go-to hub for creative students and graduates. You can find jobs, paid internships, competitions, and volunteering roles. If you are studying an art, design, communications, or a performance course or have recently graduated, then this is the place for you! Our goal is to help you achieve your ambitions and make a living doing what you love.