5 essential skills for 2025 to stay relevant tomorrow

Change isn’t coming. It’s already here, and it’s accelerating. For organizations to stay relevant, ongoing skill development is no longer optional. In a recent webinar, Amanda Cassidy from Go1 and Eri Jancaj from Zensai shared insights on the five essential skills employees need to succeed today. Here’s what they had to say.

Today’s tools evolve quickly and your team's skills will have to do the same. From AI to cybersecurity, staying current is essential. As Amanda noted, “The half-life of a technical skill is now just two and a half years.” That’s a steep drop from the 10–15 years we saw a generation ago.

But digital literacy means more than knowing how to use Excel (check that off first!). It’s about understanding how emerging tools reshape industries and recognizing their ethical implications, too.

For example: How can your team use AI to enhance support while protecting customer data?

With constant change comes uncertainty. Many employees feel the strain. But when companies prioritize agility, they build resilience into their culture. Amanda emphasized that supporting adaptability means offering flexible training formats—blending in-person learning with digital options—and investing in change management when big transitions arise.

Hybrid work has raised the stakes for clear, consistent communication. Frontline teams especially need strong verbal, written, and non-verbal communication to keep projects moving. According to Go1 research, 40% of leaders now rank collaboration among their top skill priorities.

These capabilities go beyond productivity—they build trust and engagement. Teams perform better when they’re equipped with active listening tools and emotionally intelligent leadership.

As automation handles more routine tasks, your people are left with what machines can’t manage: Nuance, context, and creativity. Whether it’s diagnosing patient needs with help from data analytics or improving operations on the factory floor, these skills are universally vital.

Eri shared a reminder: “Every industry needs problem solvers who can think critically and act creatively.” Employers benefit from cross-functional training that prepares people to connect dots in new ways.

Leadership today isn’t limited to titles. It’s about guiding others with empathy and purpose, especially in times of stress or uncertainty. Amanda put it clearly: “Empathy and clear communication are essential in workplaces where burnout and distraction are common.”

Strong leadership training programs foster inclusion, transparency, and trust—skills that every employee can use to create more connected, resilient teams.

Eri posed a key question: “What happens if we invest in our people and they leave? What happens if we don’t—and they stay?”

The answer is clear: Learning must be continuous to keep pace with the world. Supporting your team’s development isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s essential to performance, retention, and growth.

Watch the full webinar at the top of this article to hear more of what Amanda and Eri had to say on upskilling your employees on the essential skills.