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TERRA ECONOMICUS

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Future skills: What competencies shape the specialists of a new generation


TERRA ECONOMICUS, Vol. 23, No 4

Citation: Borovskaya M.A., Tarasenko L.V., Dikaya L.A., Kirik V.A. (2025). Future skills: What competencies shape the specialists of a new generation. Terra Economicus 23(4), 21–36 (in Russian). DOI: 10.18522/2073-6606-2025-23-4-21-36

Acknowledgment: The work was carried out with the financial support of the Development Program of the Academy of Psychology and Pedagogy of the Southern Federal University (VnGr/24-02-PP).

In a rapidly changing world where knowledge economy and digital transformation dictate new rules, human capital is coming to the fore as a strategic resource for development. This article is not just an academic study. It is an intelligent navigator in the space of the future, where outdated work models are replaced by flexible, interdisciplinary competencies, and professional success is linked with the ability to think critically, act under uncertainty and continuously develop. The goal of our research is to create a scientifically based, systematic taxonomy of future skills — key competencies that will help professionals not only adapt to the challenges of new reality but also become active architects. Based on a systematic review of 75 domestic and international scientific sources from 2015 to 2025, we identified 19 skill clusters grouped into three interconnected dimensions: cognitive, non-cognitive (social-emotional), and metacognitive. The focus is not just on knowledge and skills, but on the ability to self-organize, communicate, lead, be creative, and think ethically. The novelty of the work lies in the development of an interdisciplinary analysis methodology that integrates economic, sociological, and psychological approaches. The results obtained have broad practical significance, ranging from the design of new-generation educational programs to the creation of tools for assessing and developing human capital in the context of continuous transformations. The proposed taxonomy not only responds to the challenges of the time but also serves as a foundation for new educational and managerial culture – a culture of the future where every person can unlock his / her potential and become a driver of innovation and sustainable development.

Keywords: personal skills; labor market; taxonomy; interdisciplinary approach; human capital
JEL codes: D83, D91


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Publisher: Southern Federal University
ISSN: 2073-6606