Workplace trends for 2026: AI, human skills and more expert job market predictions

It’s the start of a new year, and for many of us that means looking ahead to key goals and milestones that lie ahead—whether they involve lacing up a new pair of running shoes or adding the finishing touches to an important job application. 

If you’re more focused on the latter, you may be one of the many professionals planning for 2026 to be a big year in your career. You could be in the midst of business school application planning or looking ahead to life after graduation, either way it’s a good idea to think about what changes we might see in the job market over the next year and beyond. 

According to our annually published Corporate Recruiters Survey, the percentage of employers who sought AI skills in new hires rose by 5% in 2025. Meanwhile the proportion of employers who cited recession fears as a key impact on their hiring plans fell by 8%. 

Considering which new roles or career paths are flourishing, where there are sector-wide challenges, and what they could mean for business school graduates is therefore a useful exercise, one that can help you identify opportunities, evaluate areas to develop your skills, and plan accordingly. 

So, what do experts predict for the coming year? We spoke with leading voices from top global business schools to find out their job market predictions and expected workplace trends for 2026 and beyond. 

Workplace trends and job market predictions for 2026 

A growth mindset will be essential 

“The only way to make yourself futureproof is to keep on learning, again and again. Such learning requires a true openness to be a “rookie” over and over again. The trap is that the more experience we gain, the more we resist doing entirely new things and the more biased we become against pushing ourselves to acquire radically new capabilities. Lifelong learners have a curiosity that drives them, the humility to know that they are a work in progress, and the courage to get out of their comfort zone.”

Marion Debruyne, dean, Vlerick Business School.

Interdisciplinary opportunities will grow 

“More and more, the hardest business problems sit at the intersection of disciplines — commercial strategy, operations, risk, regulation, and customer experience. That’s why I expect business school grads to move into roles like business transformation manager, strategy and operations manager, or partnerships/ecosystem manager—jobs that are fundamentally about connecting the dots and turning complexity into execution. The key skills are systems thinking, strong commercial judgment, data fluency, and the ability to align stakeholders and deliver change end-to-end.”

Ashleigh Dawson, graduate opportunities manager, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School

Employers will look for highly adaptable leaders 

“Employers are looking for business graduates ready to lead in transformation, sustainability and strategic roles. The 2025 GMAC survey shows that across industries the top future skills will be problem-solving, strategic thinking and adaptability—with consulting, finance, healthcare and manufacturing all prioritising these core capabilities. At Esade, we see these same patterns: employers value graduates who combine analytical rigour with agility, communication and ethical leadership to navigate complex global challenges with cultural awareness. Besides being digital and tech savvy, developing these skills will position students for success in evolving business careers.”

María José Verastegui, director of Career Services, Esade Business School 

Transferable skills will be vital for new roles

“We are seeing new career paths emerging in areas such as AI-driven business transformation, ESG strategy, and cross-border venture development. Graduates will need strong analytical and digital skills, the ability to work across cultures and countries, and the agility to lead in fast-changing markets. Strategic thinking, communication, and real-world problem-solving are increasingly essential.” 

Dibyendu Bose, deputy director, Sasin School of Management

AI and digital transformation will continue to shape the workplace 

“Graduates will see opportunities in digital transformation and change management, where expertise in AI implementation, cybersecurity, and data privacy will be highly valued. Adaptability and critical thinking skills will be crucial. As organizations increasingly rely on AI, the human ability to build authentic connections becomes more valuable. Empathy, negotiation, and face-to-face communication become key for organizations.

Rodrigo Cetina, associate dean for Education and Academic Affairs, UPF Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM)

… and reinforce the need for human skills 

“In the midst of all the noise about AI, we have perhaps collectively overlooked the importance of ‘human competencies’. For example, it is vital that students have the flexibility and adaptability to adapt to new environments and work effectively with diverse personalities and groups. Interestingly, LinkedIn is now filled with tons of messages where hiring managers urge potential candidates to directly get in touch with them. Graduates should not underestimate the age-old skills of networking, communication and storytelling. All reassuringly human traits that stand the test of time!” 

Jérôme Troiano, director of the Careers Center, ESSCA School of Management

… with problem solving more important than ever

"Many future career roles will require problem solving with a human edge. Our graduates will apply their unique skill sets to careers in management consulting, which will call for deep data analysis, strong leadership, and strategic thinking; growth marketing in positions in tech, fintech, health tech, and climate tech that will require the ability to practice a data-driven, experimental approach; and prompt engineering, which will call on managers to view challenges through a business lens, using generative AI models to solve the world's most pressing problems." 

Abby Scott, assistant dean, MBA career management and corporate partnerships, University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business 

B-school graduates will continue to find opportunities in key sectors

“Of the eight sectors in our government’s industrial strategy, three align strongly with our business school graduates: digital technologies, financial services, and professional/business services. We expect them to thrive at the intersection of business, digital, and data, particularly within our locally vibrant digital sector. In these emerging roles, graduates must navigate an evolving labour market demanding broad digital, data, and interpersonal skills. Those showing resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continual development will lead in this shifting landscape.”

Martin Boehm, executive vice president, Hult International Business School

Looking ahead beyond 2026

Entrepreneurial thinking will be widely valued 

“I am convinced that an entrepreneurial mindset will become one of the key skills in the years to come—far beyond traditional career paths. It is not just about recognizing opportunities early on, with openness, creativity, and mental agility, but also about implementing them courageously, persistently, and with a clear sense of responsibility. Whether as an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur within a company, initiative, energy, teamwork, persuasiveness, and a strong belief in one's own creative power are crucial.”

Oliver Strasser, chief operating officer, WU Executive Academy, Vienna University of Economics and Business 

Career paths in sustainability-related fields will increase 

“Over the next few years, we expect growth in careers in sustainability and ESG, climate-risk and transition management, impact investment, public–private partnership and place-based innovation leadership. Also for founders of digitally enabled, low-carbon ventures and social enterprises. To succeed, our graduates will need strong digital and data literacy, strategic thinking, problem-solving, communication and cross-cultural skills, alongside project management, teamwork, emotional intelligence and resilience, and an entrepreneurial mindset grounded in ethical judgement and a commitment to lifelong learning.”

Kieran Fernandes, executive dean, Durham University Business School

Curiosity and resilience will define career success 

"According to the World Economic Forum, 170 million jobs are expected to be created by 2030 as we adapt to major technological, economic and environmental transformations. Training our students for a specific role is a near impossible task, and perhaps not in their best interest. Now more than ever, we must teach students how to learn, and to unlearn. How to question, to test, to fail, to try again. Curiosity and resilience are the skills that will be required of our students no matter their future career path." 

Professor Francesco Rattalino, executive vice president of Academic Affairs and Student Experience, ESCP Business School