The following is shared from Oregon Workforce Partnership:

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the workplace, the demand for skills that are hardest to automate is increasing. 

A recent trends report from M.Cast highlights the growing importance of “durable skills” — capabilities like communication, adaptability, collaboration, leadership, creativity, and critical thinking. Capacities that were once grouped together under the nice-to-have label “soft skills,” are increasingly being viewed as essential workplace abilities in an AI-driven economy.

The report argues that AI is changing the hierarchy of workplace skills. As technology makes technical knowledge and task execution more accessible, distinctly human capabilities are becoming the key differentiator. In other words: if AI can help write code, analyze data, or automate workflows, the people who stand out will increasingly be those who can communicate clearly, solve problems collaboratively, adapt to change, and exercise sound judgment.

The job search data reflects this shift:

• 76% of job postings requested at least one durable skill
• Nearly half requested three or more durable skills
• 8 of the 10 most requested skills today are durable skills
• And 70% of corporate leaders report significant gaps in these capabilities among workers

The report also notes that many employers believe recent graduates are entering the workforce unprepared not because of technical shortcomings, but because they lack communication, teamwork, and other durable skills needed to navigate modern workplaces.

For workforce professionals, educators, and career navigators, this conversation is familiar. Workforce systems have long emphasized employability skills, career-connected learning, mentorship, and experiential learning as core ingredients for long-term success. What has shifted is the urgency. As AI becomes embedded into everyday business operations, durable skills are no longer being treated as supplemental, but increasingly viewed as strategic advantages.

Importantly, the report emphasizes that these skills are teachable. Durable skills like communication or adaptability are not personality traits. These durable skills can be developed through coaching, real-world experiences, mentorship, feedback-rich environments, and collaborative learning.

The organizations that thrive in the coming years may not be the ones with the most AI tools, but the ones best able to combine technology with human judgment, creativity, and connection. As the report puts it: “AI may be the engine driving organizations forward, but human judgment and intellect remain at the steering wheel.”

To explore the full report and its findings on durable skills, AI, and workforce readiness, view the complete 2026 M.Cast Trends Report. Interested in learning more about durable skills? Visit the Oregon Employability Skills website.