Non-tech skills worth developing in the age of AI

You don't need to learn computer science to protect your job from artificial intelligence (AI). Discover the value of improving human skills in the age of AI.

By: Thomas Broderick , Edited by: Valerie Black

Published: September 24, 2025

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You aren’t sure about learning AI. What now?

The rise of generative AI in the early 2020s has led companies and organizations to explore how the technology can help them cut jobs and reduce costs. As a result, AI anxiety has led workers to pursue new ways to upskill or reskill. The latest edX survey report shows that 54% of workers believe AI skills are important to their future career success.

Although learning AI basics and in-demand tech skills can help workers protect their careers, many non-tech skills are also worth developing. Mastering these skills offers many potential advantages, such as allowing you to:

Explore different industries and career paths.
Become more efficient in your current career.
Develop a stronger résumé and become a better interviewer.

Improving these skills may require education and experience. Start by exploring edX soft skills courses and programs. Focus on the non-tech skills worth developing that best align with your current job and longterm career goals.

Non-technical skills you can learn

The following describes just some of the transferable, non-tech skills worth developing in 2025. Use a layoff gap or other extended period of free time to enhance these skills and build your résumé.

Communication

Communication skills allow you to do more than get your point across in an email or in a presentation. They also help you:

Persuade others to your way of thinking.
Collaborate with peers and outside stakeholders.
Help people in conflict find common ground.

Communication skills are necessary in almost every field. Their wide transferability makes them an excellent choice for upskilling or reskilling in uncertain economic times.

Problem solving

Good problem-solving skills can help you stay calm in even the most unexpected and challenging work situations. No matter the challenges you face on the job, you show off problem-solving skills by:

Discussing problems with emotional detachment.
Researching how a problem began.
Discovering and evaluating solutions.
Reviewing your approach and researching ways to improve.

Applying these techniques can make you someone that others go to for advice and help.

Analysis

Analytical skills complement problem-solving skills, as both help you recognize and respond to unexpected events. Analytical skills can also help you:

Make sense of large amounts of information.
Identify patterns others may not have noticed.
Present data in a clear and concise way.

Analysis is one of the best non-tech skills worth developing in 2025, as AI hallucinations continue to impact large language models (LLMs) tasked with drawing conclusions from large data sets.

Time management

Although you might have seen an LLM produce an essay or picture in just a few seconds, humans still have the edge concerning time management. Employees with developed time-management skills:

Create and follow project timelines.
Predict which parts of a task may take the most time or cause a delay.
Make time for editing and other revisions.
Can work on two or more projects simultaneously.

With time-management skills, you can display consistency and reliability to your managers and supervisors.

Creative thinking

Creative thinking sets people apart from even the most powerful AI. In the workplace, creative thinking can take many forms, including:

Developing many potential solutions to a problem in a short amount of time.
Having a passion for self-improvement and professional development.
Having an open mind to new ideas and perspectives.

Simply asking more questions can show managers that you are a curious professional with a creative side.

Non-technical careers in AI

As you retool non-tech skills worth developing, consider how these skills may align with the following jobs. Qualifying for these and other non-technical careers in AI may require extra education and experience.

AI researcher

Also known as AI engineers, AI researchers:

Study the latest data science advances.
Build new AI models.
Choose datasets to train AI models.
Follow machine learning best practices.

Succeeding in this career requires some knowledge of programming languages and advanced mathematics. If you're interested in this career, consider earning a bachelor's in computer science or information technology.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that data scientists, including AI researchers, earned a median salary of $112,590 as of May 2024.

Content designer

Content designers use their creative, analytical, and communication skills to:

Write copy and create graphics that meet their clients' needs.
Develop content for different formats, such as websites, television, and radio.
Follow brand guidelines and client style guides.

Learning AI tools can help content designers brainstorm ideas and fine-tune their products. Web developers and digital designers earned an annual median salary of $95,380 as of May 2024, per the BLS.

Project manager

Project managers, also known as project management specialists, coordinate projects from start to finish. Their work involves:

Collaborating with stakeholders to set objectives and timelines.
Assigning responsibilities to less-senior staff.
Promoting open communication with team members.
Keeping projects within budget.

Over half of project managers work in the professional, scientific, technical, and construction industries. Per the BLS, they earned a median salary of $100,750 per year in 2024.

Marketing specialist

Marketing specialists do more than help sell a company's products or services. Their work also involves building trust with potential consumers and improving their employer's overall reputation. Excelling in this role requires knowledge of:

Web marketing
Social media
Predictive analytics

Marketing specialists in managerial roles earned a median salary of $161,030 per year in 2024, according to the BLS.

AI ethicist

Although AI features many potential upsides, issues such as bias have led employers to develop AI ethics best practices for their employees to follow. AI ethicists:

Give presentations to AI developers and senior managers.
Research how companies, organizations, and governments use AI.
Uncover bias in popular AI programs.
Help companies develop AI guidelines.

edX courses that can help you on your journey

Develop human skills in the age of AI by exploring these convenient and affordable online edX courses: