Hiring managers say both hard skills and soft skills will be desirable in hiring in 2026, with some skills outpacing others during the next year, according to a Dec. 3 report from ResumeTemplates.com.
In particular, 62% said hard skills and soft skills are equally valuable, while 24% said soft skills matter more and 14% said hard skills do.
“Soft skills tend to be underrated, but they’re often the most valuable throughout your career. Communication is especially critical. You need it to articulate ideas, show your value to decision-makers, and work effectively with your team,” Julia Toothacre, chief career strategist at ResumeTemplates.com, said in a statement.
In a survey of 1,005 U.S. hiring managers, use of software tools topped the list of hard skills desired in 2026. After that, employers said they want workers with technical skills in data analysis, cybersecurity, project management, quality assurance and testing, automation and workflow optimization, product management, technical writing and documentation, data visualization and artificial intelligence tools.
“Given how strongly companies have been pushing AI, I’m surprised it landed at the bottom of the list,” Toothacre said. “It shows that while AI matters, it still doesn’t outweigh the technical skills required to actually perform your job.”
In addition, hiring managers pointed to communication as the top soft skill for 2026, followed by professionalism, time management, accountability, resilience, problem solving, critical thinking, attention to detail, collaboration and adaptability.
“I was surprised to see professionalism rank second. Critical thinking and collaboration usually land higher,” Toothacre added. “To me, this signals that younger generations are entering the workforce with a more laid-back attitude.”
Employers have become increasingly focused on soft skills during the job hunt, with 60% saying soft skills are more important now than five years ago, according to a TestGorilla report. In an AI-transformed labor market, employers’ skills priorities have shifted to balance technical skills with soft skills, the report found.
Unfortunately, most leaders say entry-level employees remain unprepared for their jobs, partially due to a lack of soft skills, according to a General Assembly report. Employers can invest in training and upskilling the next generation as AI increasingly affects the entry-level pipeline, General Assembly’s CEO said.
