{"id":88162,"date":"2026-02-17T20:05:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T20:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/degreed.com\/experience\/?post_type=newsroom&p=88162"},"modified":"2026-03-03T17:12:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T17:12:39","slug":"human-skills-lead-2026-learning-demand","status":"publish","type":"newsroom","link":"https:\/\/degreed.com\/experience\/de\/newsroom\/human-skills-lead-2026-learning-demand\/","title":{"rendered":"Human Skills Lead 2026 Learning Demand as AI Accelerates Upskilling Across Industries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Salt Lake City, UT, February 12th 2026 \u2013<\/strong> New insights released today by Degreed<\/a>, the leading AI-powered learning system for enterprise workforce transformation, show that while artificial intelligence is transforming how professionals learn, human skills are driving what they choose to learn. As organizations prepare for 2026, leadership, communication, and problem-solving capabilities are emerging as the most in-demand skills across the workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top 10 Skills Professionals Want to Learn in 2026*:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Leadership;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Communication;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Project Management;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Problem Solving;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Customer Service;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Microsoft Excel;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Data Analytics;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Python;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Adaptability;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Stakeholder Management.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Notably, seven of the top ten skills are human or business-centric, pointing to a workforce shift toward capabilities that shape how technology is applied, not just how it is used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThe future of work isn\u2019t about choosing between AI and human capability, but finding ways of bringing them together,\u201d said David Blake, CEO of Degreed<\/strong>. \u201cAI is transforming how people learn, making development faster, more personalized, and more accessible. But the skills professionals are currently most eager to build are deeply human. Organizations that invest in these capabilities alongside AI fluency will be best positioned to adapt, innovate, and lead in an increasingly complex world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n