The labor market is changing, and so are the skills needed to succeed in it. Job titles may change slowly, but skills change faster. According to Lightcast, the average U.S. job saw one-third of its skills change between 2021 and 2024, even when the job itself wasn't created or lost.
The invention of generative AI has sped this up. McKinsey estimates that by 2030, up to 30% of hours currently worked could be automated. But automation tends to hit tasks, not entire jobs. As routine tasks get automated away, the specific skills a person brings, not just their job title, become the thing that determines their value in the market.
For a regional economy like the Chicago metro's, tracking this change matters. Knowing which skills are gaining ground — and are forecast to gain ground — helps local employers, educators, and workforce agencies invest in the right training and spot gaps before they become shortages.