These are the top non-technical skills you need to succeed in the best jobs of the future
- Business Insider recently found the best jobs of the future.
- These jobs are not only high-paying but are expected to grow over the next decade.
- Some of the jobs on our list were manager positions, where it is important to have certain non-technical skills to be a successful leader, such as being a good communicator and listener.
- Active listening made the top of our list of skills most commonly needed for these high-paying, fast-growing jobs.
If you are looking to land a job in a high-paying field poised for strong job growth over the next decade, you may want to make sure you have these non-technical skills.
No matter the job you are applying for, it is important to have non-technical skills for success in your career. According to Indeed, soft skills are important for collaboration and problem solving. Per LinkedIn, creativity, persuasion, adaptability are among the top five most important soft skills that employers are looking for in potential candidates.
To find the most valuable soft skills for the top 30 future jobs, we averaged the scores for each how important skills are for these jobs from the Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network (O*NET) database, where each skill is given an importance score from 0 to 5. We excluded the "project management, all others" and "physicians, all other; and ophthalmologists, except pediatric" occupation groups from our list because O*NET doesn't have skills listed for these broader occupations.
For registered nurses, we used the main overarching job title, although O*NET does provide skill data for more specialized types of registered nurses like critical care nurses. Additionally, some of the occupations on our ranking have more than one specific job title on O*NET. Overall, we looked at 33 specific occupations within those 28 top future jobs, excluding the two broader occupations.
Many of the jobs that we found that are high-paying and expected to grow are in management. Business Insider previously reported on the soft skills leaders need to be effective communicators and perform well in their jobs, according to ResourcefulManager, including being good negotiators and communicators. Forbes Coaches Council also found curiosity, active listening, and resilience as important soft skills to have.
Because some of the other top future jobs are in health care or are various specialists in computer support or in human resources, active listening and critical thinking made the top of the list.
The following are the best soft skills to have in these high-paying jobs with bright futures. It is important to note employment projections are based on data from before the pandemic. BLS is unsure how coronavirus will affect projections as of now, so the best future jobs may change as a result of the pandemic.
We also included each skill's definition as listed on O*NET and the average annual salaries for the three jobs with the highest score in each skill. In the case of a tied score, we ranked the jobs with the highest average salaries as of May 2019, the most recent data available.
14. Systems analysis
According to O*NET, this systems skill is defined as determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.19
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Management analysts - $85,260
2. Application software developers - $107,510
3. Computer systems analysts - $90,920
13. Service orientation
According to O*NET, this social skill is defined as actively looking for ways to help people.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.22
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses - $47,480
2. Mental health counselors - $46,240
3. Physician assistants - $112,260
12. Time management
According to O*NET, this resource management skill is defined as managing one's own time and the time of others.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.30
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Medical and health services managers - $100,980
2. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses - $47,480
3. Lawyers - $122,960
11. Coordination
According to O*NET, this social skill is defined as adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.35
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Medical and health services managers - $100,980
2. General and operations managers - $100,780
3. Construction managers - $95,260
10. Active learning
According to O*NET, this basic skill is defined as understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.45
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Nurse practitioners - $109,820
2. Postsecondary health specialties teachers - $97,320
3. Marketing managers - $136,850
9. Social perceptiveness
According to O*NET, this social skill is defined as being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.49
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Mental health counselors - $46,240
2. Nurse practitioners - $109,820
3. Registered nurses - $73,300
8. Monitoring
According to O*NET, this basic skill is defined as assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.55
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Financial managers, branch or department - $129,890
2. General and operations managers - $100,780
3. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses - $47,480
7. Complex problem solving
According to O*NET, this complex problem solving skill is defined as identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.56
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Treasurers and controllers (under financial managers) - $129,890
2. Lawyers - $122,960
3. Nurse practitioners - $109,820
6. Writing
According to O*NET, this basic skill is defined as communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.60
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Lawyers - $122,960
2. Medical and health services managers - $100,980
3. Postsecondary health specialties teachers - $97,320
5. Judgment and decision making
According to O*NET, this system skill is defined as considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.64
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Treasurers and controllers (under financial managers) - $129,890
2. Lawyers - $122,960
3. Nurse Practitioners - $109,820
3 (tie). Speaking
According to O*NET, this speaking skill is defined as talking to others to convey information effectively.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.89
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Lawyers - $122,960
2. Medical and health services managers - $100,980
3. Elementary school teachers - $59,670
3 (tie). Reading comprehension
According to O*NET, this basic skill is defined as understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.89
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Lawyers - $122,960
2. Treasurers and controllers (under financial managers) - $129,890
3. Physician assistants - $112,260
2. Critical thinking
According to O*NET, this basic skill is defined as using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.92
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Lawyers - $122,960
2. Computer and information systems managers- $146,360
3. Treasurers and controllers (under financial managers) - $129,890
1. Active listening
According to O*NET, this basic skill is defined as giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Average O*NET score from the best future jobs: 3.94
The jobs with the highest scores for this skill:
1. Mental health counselors - $46,240
2. Lawyers - $122,960
3. Physician assistants - $112,260
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