Leadership Skills Are Rising. Are Companies Paying Attention?

In the evolving world of work, one trend is becoming increasingly clear: employees are prioritizing leadership skills like never before.

According to new data from the SkillCycle State of Skills Report 2025, the percentage of employees focusing on leadership development has jumped from 8.9% in 2022 to 15.5% in 2025. This quiet but powerful shift reflects deeper changes in how workers are preparing for the future, even as much of the conversation about work centers on AI, automation, and efficiency.

This trend matters because leadership is no longer confined to job titles. McKinsey research notes that organizations with distributed leadership—where employees at all levels take ownership and demonstrate initiative—are significantly more adaptable and innovative. In a world shaped by hybrid work, fast-moving markets, and technological disruption, leadership is emerging as a foundational skill rather than a trait reserved for executives.

Why the surge? One factor is the growing recognition that technical skills alone are no longer enough. Gartner’s 2024 Future of Work study highlighted that 67% of HR leaders rank leadership and interpersonal skills as top priorities for future success. Employees appear to be taking that message seriously, developing capabilities that help them influence, guide, and motivate others in increasingly complex environments.

At the same time, automation continues to transform workplaces, shifting the focus away from routine tasks and toward higher-level thinking. Harvard Business Review emphasizes that as AI handles more of the operational load, human strengths like decision-making, empathy, and strategic thinking become key differentiators. Leadership sits squarely at that intersection.

This raises a crucial question: are companies prepared to nurture and capitalize on this groundswell of employee-driven leadership development? While the data shows that employees are stepping up, many organizations may still be clinging to outdated models that focus narrowly on task efficiency. Closing this gap will require rethinking performance management, development pathways, and even company culture.

The SkillCycle State of Skills Report 2025 offers a deeper look at these trends, exploring how leadership and other human-centered skills are evolving alongside automation and AI. The full findings shed light on where employees are placing their bets, and what companies must do to stay in step with a workforce that is already looking ahead.

The landscape of work is changing. Employees are ready. Are companies ready to move with them?