AI abilities most important hard skill for resumes in 2025, says HR

'CHROs should lead the discussion about what skills technology automates and which ones remain mission-critical skills handled by employees'

AI abilities most important hard skill for resumes in 2025, says HR

HR managers have cited AI abilities as the most important hard skill in resumes in 2025, according to a new report, which indicated how AI is transforming the hiring needs of workplaces.

The survey from Resume Builder among 1,000 hiring managers in the US revealed that 47% of them consider AI abilities to be the most valuable hard skill for jobseekers.

This is followed by sales and customer relationship management (40%), as well as data analysis and visualisation (39%).

"Rather than spending time training employees from scratch, employers increasingly favour candidates who already possess these high-demand skills, enabling them to contribute to business operations more effectively from day one," said Stacie Haller, ResumeBuilder's chief career advisor, in a statement.

Meanwhile, the report also found that employers are looking for soft skills, such as problem solving (68%), communication (65%), and time management (64%).

Impact of AI in workplaces

The findings further cement the impact of AI on employers' hiring needs after the technology's rapid development over the past years.

Data from Amazon Web Services last year found that 73% of employers said hiring AI talent is a priority for them.

The demand comes amid a myriad of expected benefits of AI in the workplace, even in HR departments. The AWS findings show that 78% of employers believe the HR department will be a major beneficiary of AI.

Other departments that will benefit from the technology include IT departments (92%) as well as sales and marketing (85%).

Automation of employees' tasks emerged as the biggest expected benefit (64%) of AI at work, according to the AWS survey. They also believe it will:

  • Improve workflows and outcomes (58%)
  • Enhance communications (54%)
  • Help employees learn new skills (50%)

Upskilling amid AI talent shortage

Despite the positive perspectives on what AI can bring, the AWS report found 75% of employers find it difficult to hire AI talent, indicating a labour market shortage for these individuals.

As the number of AI talents fall short of hiring demand, employers are being urged to consider upskilling their workforce so they can meet their skills gaps.

Companies need to improve the AI literacy of employees in order to compete in a rapidly changing environment, according to two IBM experts.

"Companies that create and enhance these AI competencies produce a competitive advantage over those companies that fail to upskill or reskill their employees for the era of AI," say IBM Consulting Writer Keith O'Brien and IBM Editorial Content Strategist Amanda Downie.

They also noted that every organisation will be responsible for providing its workforce with the skill sets and education they need to use AI in their daily jobs.

"CHROs, specifically, should lead the discussion about what skills technology automates and which ones remain mission-critical skills handled by employees.”