If you want to prepare for 2027, recent reports point to the same group of skills: artificial intelligence and data, information security, cloud computing, and software development, accompanied by analytical thinking, adaptability, and communication. None of these studies created an exclusive list for 2027. What they show is the market direction between 2025 and 2030, and that is what you will see here, with the source of each piece of data.
We used four surveys: the Future of Jobs Report 2025 from the World Economic Forum; the list of in-demand skills for 2026 from LinkedIn for Brazil; the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2026; and the labor market outlook report for ICT from Brasscom published in May 2026.
What the reports say
The World Economic Forum report published in January 2025 surveyed employers about the period from 2025 to 2030. The three fastest-growing skills according to them are AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, and technological literacy. The same study estimates that 39% of the skills a professional uses today will change or become obsolete by 2030.
In Brazil, Brasscom asked companies which technical knowledge they prioritize. The order was: cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI, and English. The report also shows that 82% of employers expect to increase their IT team in the next two years and that the biggest difficulty in hiring is finding technical knowledge, followed by lack of experience.
The LinkedIn list for Brazil released in February 2026 measures which skills grew the most in profiles and hiring between December 2024 and November 2025. It ranks AI strategy and platforms at the top and includes software engineering and APIs, project management, and information security.
Technical Skills
Artificial intelligence applied to work
AI appears in all four reports. In the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2026, 73% of those using code assistants and agents say they use them every day. But trust has a condition: 48% trust AI when they can easily validate the answer. In other words, knowing how to use AI includes knowing how to verify what it delivers.
How to develop:
- Use a code assistant on a personal project and review each suggestion before accepting it, running tests.
- Learn the basics of how language models work: context, limitations, and why they make mistakes.
- Create a small automation that calls an API of a model to solve a real problem of yours, like summarizing emails or classifying spreadsheets.
Data
The World Economic Forum groups AI and big data into the same category, and the LinkedIn list cites data-driven decision-making. In the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2026, SQL is the second most used language, cited by 58.4% of respondents, right behind JavaScript. A good starting point is mastering SQL and knowing how to clean and analyze data with Python. Take a public database like those from IBGE, ask questions of it, and publish the results on GitHub with a short explanation.
Cloud computing
Cloud is the top technical priority for the companies surveyed by Brasscom, and cloud storage appears on the LinkedIn list. To start, choose a provider and deploy a simple application with a database, configuring permissions and monitoring costs. Before creating any resource, set spending alerts on the account to avoid surprises on the bill.
Information security
Cybersecurity ranks second in both the growth ranking from the World Economic Forum and the priorities from Brasscom. LinkedIn highlights data protection and incident response. Even if you don't want to work solely in security, it's worth learning how to write secure code: validate inputs, store passwords with hashes, and avoid leaving API keys in the repository. Study the most common vulnerabilities in web applications and practice in environments designed for that, like CTF challenges.
Software engineering
In the LinkedIn list, software engineering, systems integration, APIs, and versioning form their own block. In Brasscom, software is the segment projected to generate the most formal jobs by 2026. With AI writing part of the code, the value of those who understand architecture, integration, and testing increases. Practice by creating a small API with automated tests, version control with Git, and clear documentation.
English
Brasscom places English alongside technical skills on the priority list. Documentation, forums, and a good part of AI tools are in English. Reading official documentation every day, even slowly, is already useful practice.
Human Skills
Analytical thinking
It is the primary core skill for employers in 2025, according to the World Economic Forum: seven out of ten companies consider it essential. In practice, it means breaking a problem down into parts, raising hypotheses, and testing them. Train by keeping a record of how you solved each bug: what you observed, what you tested, and what worked.
Resilience, flexibility, and agility
It ranks second among the core skills in the same report. With 39% of skills transforming by 2030, you'll need to change tools and ways of working several times. One way to train is to test a new tool each month on a small project, without the pressure of mastering it immediately.
Curiosity and continuous learning
The World Economic Forum points out curiosity, continuous learning, and creative thinking among the skills that should gain importance by 2030. Set aside a fixed time each week for study and keep a record of what you've learned. This also becomes material to show in interviews.
Communication and leadership
Leadership and social influence rank third among the core skills of the Forum. The LinkedIn list for Brazil includes leadership communication, stakeholder management, and project management. For those in technical areas, this means explaining a decision to someone from another area, writing a good README, or leading a short and objective meeting. Start by presenting your projects to colleagues or in communities and ask for feedback.
How to build your plan
You don't need to study everything at once. Choose a primary technical skill related to the area you want to work in, and combine it with a human skill. For example, someone who wants to start in web development could focus on an API with tests and cloud deployment, using AI with review, and train communication by documenting the project.
Remember that Brasscom points out lack of experience as the second biggest hiring barrier. Real and published projects help demonstrate what you know how to do, even before your first job in the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a report with the exact skills for 2027?
We did not find one. The studies used here look at 2026, the next two years, or the period up to 2030. Therefore, treat these trends as a direction, not as a guarantee.
Do I need to learn AI even if I don’t want to work with AI?
The reports suggest yes, at least at the usage level. In Stack Overflow 2026, 73% of those using assistants and agents rely on them every day, and most only trust the outcome when they can verify it.
Where should I start if I'm just beginning?
A programming language, SQL, and Git form a good foundation. From there, choose between data, cloud, security, or development, according to what interests you most.
Do human skills weigh in hiring?
In the World Economic Forum report, the three most mentioned core skills by companies are analytical thinking, resilience, and leadership. They appear alongside technical skills, not in place of them.
Next Steps
Today, choose one technical skill and one human skill from this list and define a small project that trains both over the next four weeks. To study with organized tracks, check out the Hcode course platform.
Sources
The Future of Jobs Report 2025 (Digest), World Economic Forum, January 7, 2025.
Labor Market Outlook Report for the ICT Macrosector, Brasscom, May 2026.
2026 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, Stack Overflow, consulted on October 27, 2026.
The skills that will dominate the job market in 2026, Forbes Brasil, February 25, 2026.