Factors such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence and the green transition are transforming the business world at a pace never seen before. According to the Future of Jobs Report 2025 published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), 39% of the skills we use today will be transformed or lose their validity between 2025 and 2030. So which skills will stand out in the business world of the future, and which competencies will set professionals apart?
The Most In-Demand Skills
- Analytical Thinking: The ability to analyse and interpret data in order to solve complex problems.
- Resilience, Flexibility and Agility: The ability to adapt quickly to change and withstand crises.
- Leadership and Social Influence: Team management and leadership skills focused on social benefit.
- AI and Big Data Literacy: The competence to use artificial intelligence technologies and big data analytics effectively.
- Cybersecurity and Network Management: Expertise in protecting and managing digital infrastructure.
- Technological Literacy and Continuous Learning: The willingness to adapt quickly to new technologies and to keep renewing oneself.
Skills for Which Demand Will Decline
- Routine administrative tasks
- Manual skills and physical endurance
- Data entry and standard accounting operations
Employers' Near-Term Plans
- 85% will support the development of their current employees by reskilling them.
- 70% are considering hiring employees with new skills.
- 50% plan to move their current employees from declining occupations into growing fields.
- 40% aim to reduce their workforce in areas where artificial intelligence provides automation.
Transformation in Intellectual Property and Preparing for the Future
The intellectual property sector is also greatly affected by the transformation brought about by digitalisation and artificial intelligence. AI taking over repetitive work—particularly data processing, document management and routine patent or trademark searches—is accelerating workflows in the IP field and making them more efficient. However, rather than reducing the role of intellectual property professionals, this makes their role more strategic and specialised.
While patent searches, technology trend analyses and competitor analyses can now be carried out in seconds with AI-supported tools, interpreting the data produced by these processes and making strategic decisions becomes more critical. Correctly interpreting the big-data and trend insights provided by artificial intelligence to offer clients meaningful and strategic foresight will be the most important competitive advantage for IP firms.
For an intellectual property firm to succeed in the future, the following are gaining importance:
- Using AI-Supported Tools Effectively: Effectively integrating AI-based platforms and analysis tools into patent and trademark searches.
- Big Data Analysis and Interpretation Ability: Processing raw data obtained from large data sets in a way that is useful for clients' business strategies and IP management.
- Providing Strategic Foresight: Offering clients comprehensive, in-depth reports that explain not only the data but also what it means and how it can be turned into opportunities.
In the future, the combination of technology and human competence will be the most critical factor for IP professionals. AI taking over repetitive work will enable intellectual property experts to create value by bringing their human-centred abilities—such as analysis, strategic planning and client advisory—to the fore.