What are human skills worth in the age of machines? The 5th Lefebvre Dalloz Soft Skills Barometer shows a steady rise in the importance of human qualities within organizations, particularly among large companies. Soft skills include relational, emotional, cognitive, and organizational abilities — in other words, the kind of aptitudes that AI cannot yet master, or not entirely.
How do these soft skills fit into the industrial world as AI continues to transform jobs and practices?
How is the soft skills landscape evolving in the AI era?
To answer this question, the 2025 Lefebvre Dalloz Competencies Barometer surveyed more than 400 professionals, mainly from HR and executive management, but also from finance, production, marketing, logistics, purchasing, and R&D. Their feedback offers valuable insight into current trends and what is happening across different departments.
General trends and key human qualities
Nearly all respondents (86%) agree on the importance of human soft skills as AI continues to expand.
The most frequently cited essential “human skills” include:
- Adaptability (63%), essential for integrating new tools and adjusting work methods;
- Emotional intelligence and listening (62% and 59%), which enable effective human–machine collaboration;
- Communication (57%) and critical thinking (54%), crucial for interpreting AI-generated results.
Other qualities mentioned by 30% to 50% of respondents include creativity, empathy, autonomy, and stress management.
In practice, this awareness is reflected in training: one in four companies plans to train employees specifically on AI-related soft skills, and more than one in five is considering training dedicated to generative AI.
Companies are therefore ready to strengthen human competencies to support organizational change, maintain collaboration, and secure decision-making.
Soft skills trends in the industry and construction sectors
The industry and construction sector represents 17% of the sample and perfectly illustrates this trend.
According to the LDC Barometer, nearly one in two companies in this field has already implemented soft skills training programs over the past 12 months. This figure exceeds the overall average, showing that industrial players recognize the importance of these skills in supporting their sector’s transformation.
AI doesn’t just replace processes — it redefines roles. Engineers, technicians, and quality managers must now learn to cooperate with intelligent systems. In this context, soft skills such as adaptability, communication, and stress management are becoming key success factors in managing organizational change within the industrial sector.
The role of managers in the AI transformation
The 2025 LDC Barometer highlights a major shift: 33% of companies now assign managers responsibility for developing soft skills — twice as many as in 2021. In nearly 70% of cases, they initiate training programs after identifying collective or individual needs.
In the industrial context, this trend takes on particular importance. Team leaders, workshop supervisors, and production directors are often the first to witness the introduction of AI tools into workflows. They must guide their teams’ technical upskilling while maintaining team cohesion.
In practice, this support relies heavily on frontline managers, who translate broad technological goals into everyday human practices.
Friction points: resistance, budget, and time constraints
Although the movement is well underway, challenges remain. The LDC Barometer notes that budget constraints (49%) and time availability (35%) are among the main barriers to expanding soft skills training. Even though management resistance has significantly decreased (50% in 2025 versus 71% in 2024), these friction points still slow progress.
AI also continues to raise public concern. The MEDEF survey showed that the French largely perceive it as a threat: to sovereignty (68%), democracy (69%), and data protection (81%). These figures underline the need to accompany AI integration in companies with a strong focus on trust, transparency, and ethics.
For industry stakeholders, the challenge is twofold. On the one hand, they must seize the opportunities offered by AI to optimize production, strengthen competitiveness, and foster innovation. On the other, they need to create the conditions for human engagement. This requires continuous training, dialogue, and the promotion of soft skills.