This discussion paper, part of McKinsey’s ongoing research on the impact of technology on the economy, business and society, presents new findings on the coming shift in demand for workforce skills and how work is organised within companies, as people increasingly interact with machines in the workplace. McKinsey quantified time spent on 25 core workplace skills today and in the future for the United States and five European countries, with a particular focus on five sectors: banking and insurance, energy and mining, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.