Most Valuable Career Skills for 2023

Most Valuable Career Skills for 2023: An Overview

The job market is always evolving. As some occupations lose popularity, others gain an edge. Regardless of the field you’re in, having certain career skills can make a difference in your success. Knowing which qualities are most in demand can be helpful as you carve out your career path. 

Fastest-Growing Jobs Outlook

From 2021 to 2031, the fastest-growing occupation is expected to be nurse practitioners, which is set to realize a staggering 45.7% growth rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The boost in demand for various healthcare occupations is growing in tandem with the segment of the population that is ages 65 and older. The second-fastest growing occupation is wind turbine service technicians, with a growth rate of 44.3%.

Four out of 20 of the fastest-growing occupations are healthcare-related, according to the BLS data. In addition to the aforementioned nurse practitioners, they are medical and health services managers, physician assistants, and physical therapy assistants.

In addition to nurse practitioners and wind turbine service technicians, rounding out the top five are:

• Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
• Motion picture projectionists
• Cooks, restaurant

So, which career skills will improve your chances of success in these fields? 

Tech Skills Are Highly Valued Across Multiple Industries

Tech skills are hot commodities among employees, and their application isn’t limited to the tech industry. Tech-savvy workers are highly suited to most industries, including healthcare and finance. Possessing a technical skill set can lead to a higher-paying position.

According to HRForecast, some of the hottest tech skills to have in 2023 and beyond include:

• Basic programming skills. The most popular programming languages in demand are C, Python, Java, C++, and C#.
• UI/UX design. UI/UX designers are skilled at creating digital products to meet consumer needs.
• Data engineering. Data analysts must have knowledge of Python and SQL, Java or Scala, cloud computing platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), and big data processing technologies.
• Data visualization. Data visualization skills are used in data analytics to help make information more easily digested and managed.

So how much can you expect jobs that rely on these skills to pay? According to Robert Half, some of the highest-paying tech jobs by midpoint starting salary for 2022 included:

• Big data engineer: $141,500
• DevOps engineer: $125,750
• Information systems security manager: $157,250
• Mobile applications developer: $137,250
• Applications architect: $150,500

While these tech skills are relevant to roles like tech management, systems architects, and security engineers, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. For example, data analytics is an increasingly significant component of healthcare as more healthcare providers move to digital record keeping. Software programmers and developers are also needed to create the software programs used to manage patient data and healthcare records.

Tech is also reshaping the finance industry, with demand rising for project managers, software operations specialists, application developers, business intelligence specialists, and statisticians. Data analysis and software skills are also essential in fields that don’t fit the tech mold, such as human resources.

Soft Skills Still Carry Weight with Employers

While technical skills are important, employers don’t have tunnel vision when considering which workers to hire. Soft skills, which are often influenced more by personality than by education or training, are still a priority in the workforce.

The soft skills that may be most important in a changing job market for 2023 and beyond, according to McKinsey & Co., include:

• Critical thinking skills
• Communication skills
• Mental flexibility
• Teamwork ability
• Self-leadership
• Digital fluency

The industries likely to place the highest value on soft skills include hospitality, customer service, professional training and coaching, retail, and sports. Unfortunately, jobs in this industry have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bottom Line

Developing both your hard and soft skills will boost your marketability to potential employers. It’s almost a certainty that tech skills will continue to be highly sought after, but other skills, such as being able to communicate effectively, being mindful of details, and staying organized, aren’t likely to go out of style anytime soon. The key to getting ahead is finding the right balance and targeting the skills that are most valued in your chosen field.