The rigid divide between “technical jobs” and “people jobs” is rapidly disintegrating, giving way to a new labor market phenomenon dubbed “The Great Skills Merge,” according to a new report released Monday.
Cornerstone OnDemand’s annual Skills Economy Report reveals that the rise of artificial intelligence is forcing a fundamental restructuring of the workforce. As AI automates routine tasks, roles across the spectrum are being redefined, creating a surge in demand for employees who possess a 50-50 balance of technical proficiency and human-centric skills.
The data paints a stark picture of this convergence. The report found that demand for emotional intelligence in advanced technical roles has skyrocketed by 95%. Conversely, customer-facing roles, traditionally viewed as “people-focused,” are seeing a 22% increase in demand for data literacy.
AI Implementation Takes the Top Spot
Perhaps the most significant indicator of this shift is the ascent of AI skills. For the first time in over a decade, “communication” has been displaced as the number one most demanded skill globally. It has been dethroned by “AI implementation,” which saw a staggering 245% year-over-year surge in demand.
“While AI is rewriting how we work and what is demanded of us at work, people will always be at the center of progress and innovation,” said Himanshu Palsule, Chief Executive Officer at Cornerstone.
However, Palsule issued a warning regarding the readiness of the market. “While our latest report reveals a 50/50 shift in demand for human and AI skills today, what concerns me is how unprepared many organizations still are. The future is not going to wait for those who fail to meet the moment and invest in their people.”
The “Human” Element Remains Critical
Despite the dominance of AI, the report emphasizes that human skills are not becoming obsolete; rather, they are becoming premium assets in new contexts. As automation drives down demand for traditional roles like administrative support (-38%), customer service (-45%), and sales and marketing (-22%), complex human skills are filling the void.
Employers are increasingly hunting for:
- Resilience and flexibility: +42%
- Leadership and social influence: +28%
- Creative thinking: +18%
Green Tech and Healthcare Booms
Beyond the AI transition, the report identified two other massive drivers of skill demand: climate change and an aging population.
With trillions of dollars flowing into global climate investments, “green skills” are seeing explosive growth. Sustainability management skills are up 180%, followed closely by renewable energy systems (+165%) and general green technology capabilities (+156%).
Simultaneously, the healthcare sector is scrambling for talent to support an aging demographic. Demand for registered nurses has jumped 278%, with significant increases also seen in biotechnology (+145%) and patient care (+79%).
Methodology
The findings are based on Cornerstone’s analysis of its massive data lake, which includes 28 terabytes of live labor market data. The study covered more than 200 countries and territories, analyzing over 50,000 distinct skills from job postings, resumes, and government datasets collected between 2023 and 2025.
“The global workforce is facing a period of unprecedented transformation,” said Mohan Reddy, Chief Scientist at SkyHive Engineering, a Cornerstone company. “Understanding historical trends and real-time market intelligence, together, provide critical insight into workforce and skills trends to support organizations in making informed decisions.”