It's a good time to be on the lookout for a job, as the market is expected to grow in the next couple of years. CNN reports that the 3.6% unemployment rate is nearly the lowest it has ever been in 50 years. The labor market participation rate, or the measurement used to determine those that are currently employed or seeking employment, climbed to 63.3% in October alone. Even with the ball in your court, there are still some preparations you can make to increase your chances of landing the job you want. That said, we've put together a list of the top skills that employers will be looking for in 2020. Read on to find out more about what skills you have to develop or showcase to tip the odds in your favor. Collaboration Social skills are becoming more and more valued across various industries. The capacity to collaborate and be a part of a team is crucial for any business. Tech giant IBM details how executives value the ability to work well in teams and note it as one of the top skills they look for right now. This is most likely because those with the knack for collaboration have the big picture in mind. It entails being willing to adjust to others and being sensitive towards their needs to achieve a bigger goal. Creativity Human imagination knows no bounds. Companies have started to value creativity more, as ingenuity and inventiveness have become quite the commodity in this day and age. Special Counsel highlights how employers look for more than just impressive academic backgrounds and are often more concerned with an applicant’s creativity. This is likely because while the rise of artificial intelligence has started to make great strides in replicating and improving upon the work humans can do, creativity is still a skill that machines have yet to simulate. Python This is interesting as Python is considered "slow" in terms of performance compared to other programming languages. The reason behind its popularity is the fact that it's by far one of the most efficient ways to code thanks to its concise and expressive language. This is why Tech Republic lists Python as one of its most popular programming languages used by companies such as Airbnb, SpaceX, and JUUL Labs. The fact that Python is also the programming language most associated with software development, infrastructure management, and data analysis, all but cements its place in this list. Communication There's a reason why we included communication in our article on 4 Soft Skills Employers are Looking For, as it is a skill that is always highly valued. The growing number of tech companies means the market is quickly becoming saturated. This means that getting your company's message across efficiently and effectively has become more important than ever. These days, the ability to know how to resonate with your target audience or customer base through effective communication can be just as important as being a talented coder.
