Technology is transforming our world as we go through the fourth industrial revolution. As jobs evolve, here are four key digital skills you will need to cultivate so you can thrive in the new world of work.

1. THE 4 DIGITAL SKILLS EVERYONE
WILL NEED FOR THE FUTURE OF
WORK

2. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
THE 4 DIGITAL SKILLS EVERYONE WILL NEED
FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK
Technology is transforming our world as we go through the fourth
industrial revolution. As jobs evolve, here are four key digital skills
you will need to cultivate so you can thrive in the new world of work.

3. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
A recent report by the Institute for the Future, in partnership with Dell, predicts that 85% of jobs
that will be available in 2030 haven’t been invented yet. Sound unlikely? I don’t think it’s as crazy
as it seems, especially when we think of everything that has changed in the last ten years, like
social media, artificial intelligence, and automation.
The work human beings do will continue to shift as some jobs become obsolete and new jobs
emerge – and the experience and skill set we'll need in the future look very different from the
ones we need today. Soft skills will grow in importance as the demand for the things machines
can’t do continues to increase. However, the ability to understand and work confidently with
technology will still be critical.
With that in mind, here are four digital skills you need to cultivate to thrive in the new world of
work:

4. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Digital literally refers to the skills needed to learn, work, and navigate our everyday
lives in our increasingly digital world. When we have digital literacy skills, we are able
to interact easily and confidently with technology. This means skills like:
● Keeping on top of emerging new technologies
● Understanding what tech is available and how it can be used
● Using digital devices, software, and applications – at work, in educational settings,
and in our everyday lives
● Communicating, collaborating, and sharing information with other people using
digital tools
● Staying safe and secure in a digital environment
DIGITAL LITERACY

5. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
We're currently right in the middle of the fourth industrial revolution, a movement that
is defined by many waves of new technology that combine digital and physical worlds.
For instance, you've probably noticed the flood of "smart" everyday devices on the
market today, from watches to thermostats that are connected to the internet.
All of that new technology is underpinned by data – and that’s why data literacy is one
of the critical skills we’re going to need in the future.
Data literacy means a basic ability to understand the importance of data and how to
turn it into insights and value. In a business context, you’ll need to be able to access
appropriate data, work with data, find meaning in the numbers, communicate insights
to others, and question the data when necessary.
DATA LITERACY

6. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
“Technical skills” is a broad category these days – it’s not just IT and engineering skills that will be
needed in the workplace of the future. As the nature of work changes and workflows become more
automated, a wide variety of technical skills are still enormously valuable.
In essence, technical skills are the practical or physical skills needed to do a job successfully. Demand
for these skills goes far beyond coding, AI, data science, and IT – although admittedly, those skills are
indeed in very high demand. If you’re a plumber, you have technical skills. Same for project
managers, carpenters, nurses, and truck drivers.
We will need more specific technical skills in every industry as new technologies come on the scene,
so you should be prepared to continually learn and focus on professional development through a
combination of training, education, and on-the-job training.
TECHNICAL SKILLS

7. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Cybercriminals are getting smarter and more nefarious as the world becomes more
digital. This means new threats that could have enormous impacts on our personal and
professional lives.
Digital threat awareness means being aware of the dangers of being online or using
digital devices and having the tools you need to keep yourself and your organization
safe.
With so many of our activities happening online (from making doctor’s appointments to
ordering Friday night takeaway) happening online, our digital footprints are larger than
ever.
DIGITAL THREAT AWARENESS

8. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Digital threat awareness means understanding the biggest threats in our everyday
lives, including:
● Digital addiction
● Online privacy and protecting your data
● Password protection
● Cyberbullying
● Digital impersonation
● Phishing
● Data breaches
● Malware, ransomware, and IoT attacks
In general, lowering the risks of these digital threats means we all need to develop a
healthier relationship with technology and teach others how to get the most out of
tech and have it enrich our lives without being dominated by it.

9. © 2021 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
To stay on top of future trends and future skills, make sure to subscribe to my
newsletter and have a look at my new book, Future Skills: The 20 Skills &
Competencies Everyone Needs To Succeed In A Digital World. Written for anyone
who wants to surf the wave of digital transformation – rather than be drowned by
it – the book explores why these vital future skills matter and how to develop
them.

10. © 2021 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker,
futurist, and a strategic business & technology advisor to governments and
companies. He helps organisations improve their business performance, use data
more intelligently, and understand the implications of new technologies such as
artificial intelligence, big data, blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is
a frequent contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for
Forbes. Every day Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers
and shares content that reaches millions of readers.

11. hello@bernardmarr.com
www.bernardmarr.com