In an era when artificial intelligence (AI) threatens to reshape the job market, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban points to three timeless skills that will keep workers competitive: curiosity, agility and adaptability.
“I can pretend that I’m gonna be able to predict where AI’s going and the exact impact on the job market, but I’d be lying, I have no idea,” Cuban told CNBC Make It. “But I do know that I am gonna pay attention and be agile and be curious and be able to adapt.”
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His advice comes as the World Economic Forum projects job market disruption in the coming decade due to AI, with job losses and new positions being created. Cuban believes his three core competencies will remain valuable regardless of how technology evolves.
Recent data supports the importance of adaptability. A February LinkedIn report cited by CNBC Make It identified it as an increasingly sought-after trait across industries, driven by multiple workplace shifts including AI integration, remote work adoption and generational diversity in the workforce.
LinkedIn’s chief economic opportunity officer Aneesh Raman emphasized that point in the report. “Adaptability is the best way to have agency right now,” noting its central role in managing workplace change.
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Yet the skills often prove elusive. Harvard Business School professor Joseph Fuller noted to CNBC Make It that adaptability remains particularly scarce among job candidates. “People are afraid to try new things and fail. But you can’t grow without moving beyond your comfort zone.”
The Department of Labor’s workforce readiness research supports Cuban’s emphasis on soft skills. Their curriculum for workplace success highlights how those interpersonal abilities form the foundation of professional development, particularly for emerging workers.
Arizona State University professor Barbara Pécherot recommends practical steps for those looking to strengthen their abilities. To build curiosity, she suggests exploring unfamiliar topics deliberately. To improve agility, she advises tracking daily activities to identify and eliminate inefficiencies in work routines.
