This Cornerstone report charts how the global skills landscape is being reshaped, with demand appreciating for technical capabilities such as AI engineering and data science, while once-stable skills like Microsoft Office proficiency and data entry are declining amid automation. It highlights the combined impact of AI, globalisation, the green transition and demographic shifts, which are simultaneously driving demand for new capabilities and constraining traditional talent pipelines. The research warns of the emergence of a long-term skills supply gap as entry-level roles — once core capability-building routes — contract in favour of short-term efficiency. The report concludes with three priority actions to build the resilience and skills needed to succeed in 2026 and beyond.
