This discussion paper by McKinsey Global Institute quantifies time spent on 25 core workplace skills today and in the future for five European countries - France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom - and the United States and examines the implications of those shifts. The research reveals that the strongest growth in demand will be for technological skills, the smallest category today, which will rise by 55% and by 2030 will represent 17% of hours worked, up from 11% in 2016. Competition for high-skill workers will increase, while displacement will be concentrated mainly on low-skill workers, continuing a trend that has exacerbated income inequality and reduced middle-wage jobs. Companies will need to make significant organisational changes at the same time as addressing these skill shifts to stay competitive. The survey shows that almost half of companies say they expect to take the lead in building the workforce of the future, but all stakeholders will need to work together to manage the large-scale retraining and other transition challenges ahead.