There is only one constant when it comes to the global labor market these days, and that is constant change. Whether it’s massive shifts brought on by a pandemic, international affairs, or the development of new technology, modern-day workers have no choice but to be resilient, adaptable, and perhaps most importantly—highly skilled.

Take, for example, the influx of AI in the workplace over the last few years—it changed the landscape for many companies practically overnight. And while fears over potential job loss are absolutely valid, research from a few years ago estimated that as many as 97 million new positions could emerge as a result of automation by 2025.

That’s probably why 60% of employers think it’s important for applicants to possess AI related skills. Aside from the demand for AI skills (more on that later), employers are also showing an increased desire for experience more broadly. The same study found that 39% of employers stated they were ‘very likely’ to favor candidates with more experience over those with more education.

But what are the most coveted high-income skills worth learning in 2024, and are they all technical in nature? These are some of the questions we’re going to explore as we look deeper into what top-tier applicants can do to compete in this competitive labor market.

What is a “High-Income” Skill?

The term is pretty straightforward. A high-income skill is just a skill that enables individuals to earn a higher income than someone who doesn’t possess the same experience/knowledge. The most important thing you need to know about high-income skills is that the list of which skills are in demand is always changing, which means it’s a good idea to take opportunities to upskill any time they come your way—especially if your company is paying for it.

High-income skills also tend to be more specialized and can be difficult to learn, but there is some research showing that in the age of AI, the majority of executives “agree that soft skills are more important than ever.” Some of the best skills you can learn are going to be those that are also transferable between positions and sectors, but seeking industry-specific experience can set you apart from other candidates as well.

The Most Sought After High-Income Skills of Today

1. Digital Marketing (hard skill, transferable)

            Digital marketing is mostly simply defined as the promotion of brands and products using all forms of digital communication, but most importantly online forums. While digital marketing has been around for a long time, advancements in technology are constantly changing the ways in which marketing experts can best engage with their customers. For example, nowadays people are overwhelmingly getting their information and entertainment from their cellphones. In fact, over 54% of the global market share comes from mobile usage.

2. Software Development (hard skill, transferable)

            Software development, or the computer science dedicated to creating, managing, and supporting various software, is a skill that is very much growing in demand. Experts estimate that the employment of software developers “will grow 22% in the US alone by 2029”. Software knowledge is also easier to gain than a lot of the other skills on this list thanks to a rise in popularity of online bootcamps and training courses.

3. AI Development and Use (hard skill, non-transferable)

The reason we are listing this skill as ‘non-transferable’ is not because understanding the ins and outs of AI technology isn’t broadly applicable, but rather because this is a skill that will be far more useful when it’s industry-specific. As it stands right now, AI technology is being used in so many different ways and with so many different desired outcomes, that those seeking to improve upon this skill should be focusing on how AI can help them with more specific tasks and goals.

That said, any skills related to AI will prove lucrative going forward considering that 83% of companies now claim AI is a top priority when it comes to their business plans.

4. Cyber Security (hard skill, transferable)

            No matter when you read this article, whether it’s the day it’s published or three months after the fact, chances are there has recently been some sort of cyber security mishap. Cyber attacks are unfortunately happening all the time and can cause irreparable damage to companies and individuals alike.

According to a report from the World Economic Forum, only 4% of organizations felt confident in their cyber security as of 2023. This problem is likely only going to get worse, which means that an individual who possesses skills to aid in a company’s attempts to protect consumer data, will be a very important person to have on hand.

5. Communication (soft skill, highly transferable)

            While ‘communication’ may not seem as flashy as some of the hard skills listed above, it’s still vital to the efficiency and success of any workplace, and therefore should not be overlooked. As mentioned in the intro, soft skills are still extremely important in the modern day labor market, and according to a 2024 LinkedIn survey, communication was listed as the foremost sought-after skill—even outranking analytics and research experience.

Final Thoughts…

As anyone who has been job hunting recently can tell you, learning new skills or achieving more experience is only one small piece of the puzzle. Job seekers also need to find ways to highlight those skills on their resume, time to sift through hundreds of job boards, and wherewithal to get past the first round of ATS filtering.

We’re not outlining all of these hurdles to stress you out, we’re just trying to be realistic. It doesn’t matter how many of these high-income skills you’ve acquired—if your resume is poorly organized or you are searching for jobs in all the wrong places, those skills and your talent in general will go to waste.

That’s why we recommend utilizing the tools and services of expert recruiters like the ones at CyberCoders. We are a team of trained professionals who have time and resources we’ll dedicate to finding you a perfect match. Even if you’re just at the start of your job-search journey, our free-to-use job board is a notch above the rest.