Business & Finance

Study highlights six key transferable skills needed as AI impacts employment

Employers emphasize soft skills such as communication and problem-solving amid rising automation and youth unemployment.

Updated Aug 27, 2026 · 00:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

A five-year study by the National Foundation for Educational Research identifies organization, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, creative thinking, and data evaluation as essential job skills.
The findings come as automation could displace up to three million UK jobs by 2035, while over one million young people remain out of education, employment, or training.
An interim review found 42% of employers cite a lack of soft skills or work readiness as a primary challenge when hiring young people.
A final report detailing policy proposals to increase youth employment is expected in September.

A five-year NFER study identified six key transferable skills for future employment: organisation, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, creative thinking, and data evaluation.[BBC News]
More than one million young people in the UK are currently not in education, employment, or training.[BBC News]
An interim review led by Alan Milburn found 42% of employers consider a lack of soft skills or work readiness a hiring hurdle for young people.[BBC News]
NFER research published last year estimated that AI and automation could eliminate up to three million low- to mid-level UK jobs by 2035.[BBC News]

The full set of policy proposals from the Milburn review will remain unknown until the release of its final report expected in September.[BBC News]