For the last few decades, employers and recruiters have favored hard technical skills when screening potential candidates for top software development jobs. However, in the age of AI, where many routine tasks are being automated or handled by agentic systems, applicants are now expanding their skill sets to remain competitive.
According to new data from a nearshore software development company, BairesDev, soft skills now account for 40% of their hiring evaluation process for senior software developers. This figure has doubled over the last two years.
The company, which screens more than 2 million job applications annually across 50+ countries, says employers are placing growing emphasis on qualities machines can’t replicate: adaptability, communication, and problem-solving.
The data was shared during the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report Briefing, where BairesDev CEO, Nacho De Marco, argued that traditional hard skills are not sufficient when it comes to future-proofing teams. He states that the future will belong to companies that hire developers “who learn fast, think critically, and work across borders,” abilities that he described as “mission-critical” for successful companies of all sizes.
Developers are becoming cross-functional leaders
This evolution is reshaping what it means to work in a developer role. Once focused almost exclusively on technical execution, developers are now stepping into roles that require mentoring teams, interfacing with stakeholders, and helping guide the responsible integration of emerging technologies.
That broader job scope is part of a growing global trend in which human qualities and capabilities are increasing in value, despite a simultaneous rise in AI replacing many daily job functions.
The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report estimates that nearly 40% of core job skills will change by 2030. Among the most sought-after core skills identified by employers are analytical thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility, leadership, and social influence.
Data from LinkedIn’s 2024 Global Talent Trends report supports this projection, with 69% of employers saying that they plan to prioritize soft skills in their hiring over the next year. A recent survey by HR software platform TestGorilla found that 85% of hiring decision-makers in the UK and US are now using skills-based hiring practices, up from 81% in 2024. This increase reflects a growing move away from traditional credential-based recruitment.
For early-stage companies or teams making their first hires, the stakes are even higher. Without layers of middle management or rigid team structures, startups often rely on close collaboration and adaptability by necessity. Prioritizing soft skills early, especially in technical roles, can help small companies build more resilient teams, avoid bad hires, and scale faster with fewer miscommunications.
Global hiring priorities are shifting
The impact of this mindset shift is being felt not only in Silicon Valley, but around the world. Since the pandemic, more companies have embraced remote work, opening access to tech roles for talent in traditionally underrepresented regions. With that expansion comes a growing emphasis on communication, cultural awareness, and cross-border collaboration.
Recognizing the value of these human-centric qualities early on, BairesDev has incorporated soft skills assessments into its hiring process, placing greater weight on communication, cross-functional fluency, and mentorship, especially for senior or leadership roles. The company’s approach reflects a broader industry recognition that while technical skills can be taught, traits like relying on one’s intuitive instincts and emotional intelligence are far harder to train.
And as AI continues to reshape what engineers spend their time on, many developers are being pulled into higher-order problem-solving. There are several AI-assisted tools on the market that can already generate boilerplate code. But deciding how those tools are used, and how their outputs align with business goals, still requires human oversight.
A growing investment in human qualities
The rising importance of soft skills is mirrored by growing investments in workforce development. According to data from Research and Markets, the global soft skills training market is expected to grow from $33.4 billion in 2024 to more than $92 billion by 2033. Much of that growth is being driven by companies looking to strengthen interpersonal collaboration and synergy among teams.
As automation scales, the ability to lead, collaborate, and think strategically is becoming a key differentiator. For employers, it’s no longer about filling roles, but building resilient, future-ready teams. And for developers, standing out increasingly requires more than technical expertise or credentials. It means working effectively across functions, guiding teams, and making high-level strategic decisions.
