Want to future-proof your career? Tech skills are the new job security

In a workplace defined by constant disruption, where technology is driving change across every industry, one thing is clear: More skills lead to more opportunities. That means a lifelong learning mindset is your biggest professional asset.

 

Pluralsight’s 2025 AI Skills Report found that 70% of professionals feel their jobs are at risk due to emerging technologies like AI. These fears have been compounded by mass layoffs in industries like tech, finance, retail, logistics and professional services, with many employers citing AI as a key factor.

 

The job landscape is being redefined in real time and, as a result, workers must rethink their career paths in this new environment. So where does this leave the average professional? Fortunately, it leaves them in a position of opportunity if they choose to respond proactively. Broadening your skillset is no longer just a smart move—it is a direct investment in your own job security.

 

Plan for Growth

 

If you’ve struggled to keep up with a technical conversation recently, you’re not alone. Pluralsight’s research found that 79% of professionals admit to overstating their tech skills, including AI literacy. That means the people around you are likely struggling too. Charting a course to close your skills gap can enhance your credibility and position you as a leader among your peers.

 

You don’t have to know everything, but you need to know where to start. Begin by identifying areas where your knowledge feels thin or outdated. Work with your employer or a third party to assess your skills, then ask a friend or mentor to teach you a new tool or concept you don’t understand, or consider subscribing to a skill development or training app. Throughout the process, reframing gaps as growth areas puts you back in control.

 

Treat your skills like a savings account

 

It was once possible to rely on tenure, institutional knowledge or soft skills to stay relevant. Today, employers are looking for people who can adapt. Whether you’re in operations, sales, finance, HR, or any other department that isn’t explicitly focused on technology, tech skills are relevant to your daily life.

 

According to the World Economic Forum, more than one billion people will need to reskill by 2030 as a result of accelerated tech adoption and automation. Employers increasingly expect team members to work confidently with digital tools, analyze data and integrate technology into problem-solving and collaboration.

 

Thinking of your skills like a savings account means making consistent deposits that build over time. Just as you wouldn’t wait until a financial emergency to start saving, you shouldn’t wait for a role change or layoff to start learning. A few hours of upskilling each month can grow into a portfolio of capabilities that compound your value over time. The earlier you start, the more options you create for your future.

 

Contribute to a culture of learning at work

 

Despite all the hype about jumping on the latest technology advancements, many workers still feel ashamed if they actually use these tools to help with their workflows, especially in the case of generative AI. In fact, 61% of respondents said that using generative AI tools for work is seen as lazy at their organization.

 

This mindset is not only detrimental to innovation, but it signals to workers that they shouldn’t try to learn new things and should instead stick to the status-quo. In those types of environments, champions of learning and innovation, who encourage others to pioneer new ways of working, will stand out as high performers at their organizations.

 

When learning becomes a normal part of conversation, it shifts from a personal task to a collective advantage, and AI adoption will be seen as the cultural standard, rather than taboo. Leaders should encourage this by carving out time, supporting curiosity and recognizing growth as part of performance, not separate from it.

 

The future belongs to the learners

 

Technology will continue to evolve and roles will continue to shift, but the people who thrive in this environment must be curious, consistent and unafraid to start where they are.

That means learning enough to navigate change, collaborate more effectively and recognize when to ask better questions. Whether you are starting from scratch or building on what you already know, skill growth is the most reliable path forward.

 

Upskilling is not a trend. It’s a mindset. Investing in your own growth is the most reliable way to create job security.

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Learn how to access the tech skills you need to future-proof your career.

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by Erin Gajdalo, CEO, Pluralsight