The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s annual skills inventory updates its Top 10 for 2026–27. New entries show employers want a mix of AI-related capabilities and traditional workplace skills that students can earn as verified digital badges.
AI for decision support, financial analysis, and marketing communication are new to UNO’s Top 10 skills for 2026–27.
The Top 10 blends technical skills (data analysis, Microsoft Office) with interpersonal and professional skills (teamwork, presentations, writing).
UNO integrates skill development into coursework and awards digital UNO Skill Badges after faculty assessment using standardized rubrics.
# What changed in the Top 10 UNO's Center for Competencies, Skills, and Workforce Development released the 2026–27 UNO Skills Report. For the first time, three skills appear in the Top 10 that explicitly reference AI, finance, and marketing: AI for decision support, financial analysis, and marketing communication. Those join established workplace skills employers continue to list as important.
# The full Top 10
This mix signals employer demand for both technical capabilities and human-centered professional skills.
# How UNO connects skills to coursework UNO embeds skill-building into existing courses so students develop and demonstrate workplace skills through assignments. Faculty assess student work with standardized rubrics. When a student scores proficient, they earn a digital UNO Skill Badge. These badges are portable, align with national credentialing standards, and can be shared on LinkedIn, resumes, or directly with employers.
# Why the badge approach matters Digital badges provide visible, verifiable evidence of demonstrated skills rather than just course titles or grades. UNO presents badges as a bridge between classroom work and employer expectations, making skills easier for employers to recognize and for students to communicate when seeking jobs.
# What UNO officials say Erin Bass, Ph.D., CCSW Executive Director, framed the Skills Report as evidence of UNO's commitment to working with students to develop professional skills they can carry into the workplace. Jason Coleman, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives, said the report guides UNO's skills portfolio to position students for long-term success and to create intentional opportunities for students to develop these skills.
# How the Top 10 gets updated UNO reassesses the Top 10 annually using workforce data and employer feedback. The university plans to continue expanding its badge library and to act as a connector between academics and transferable workplace skills. Employers interested in badge partnerships or work-based learning opportunities are invited to contact innovate@unomaha.edu.
# Context and alignment with broader trends The report aligns with regional employer hiring signals that emphasize both technical and human skills. UNO cites Lightcast labor market intelligence as a primary data source and uses faculty and advisory board input to interpret that data and set priorities for skill development on campus.
# Practical implications for students and employers
Employers: use UNO's badges and skills inventory to identify graduates with verified competencies in areas such as AI decision support, financial analysis, and marketing communication.
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