MSI Study Reveals Top 5 Process Improvement Skills Employers Will Demand in 2026

Survey of 1,200 execs shows surging demand for Six Sigma, PM, Change Mgmt, AI Prompt Engineering & Leadership; MSI certifications offer the quickest path.

DOWNINGTOWN, PA, UNITED STATES, July 21, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Management and Strategy Institute (MSI), a global leader in online professional certification, today announced headline findings from its new employer pulse study on the future of process improvement talent. The research confirms that five skills will determine competitive advantage through 2026:

1. Six Sigma
2. Project Management
3. Change Management
4. AI Prompt Engineering
5. Leadership

Respondents estimate that employees who master this full skill stack will improve time-to-market by 18 percent and reduce operational costs by 23 percent.
“Process excellence is moving from a specialist function to a universal job requirement,” said Michael DiLeo, Director at MSI. “Our study shows that organizations want professionals who can reduce variation with Six Sigma, drive projects on schedule, lead people through change, and tap AI responsibly. MSI has built integrated learning pathways that deliver exactly that.”

Research Methodology

Sample: 1,200 senior talent and operations leaders across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Data collection: Digital survey conducted in Q2 2025.
Benchmark sources: World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025, PMI Pulse of the Profession 2025, Prosci Change Management Trends Outlook 2024, Gartner Top Strategic Technology Trends 2025, and LinkedIn Learning Workplace Learning Report 2025.

Market Forces Boosting Demand

AI enabled operational excellence - Gartner projects that by 2026 more than 75 percent of industrial firms will rely on AI driven continuous improvement loops.
Expanding project portfolios - PMI reports that projectized work now accounts for over 35 percent of the worldwide GDP.
Change saturation - Prosci data shows that average employees experienced nine concurrent enterprise changes in 2024, up from five in 2021.
Prompt-literate workforces - LinkedIn hiring data reveals that job posts requiring AI prompt skills are growing 30 percent faster than overall recruitment.
Leadership gaps in hybrid teams - The World Economic Forum lists “leadership and social influence” as one of the top human skill deficits through 2026.

Skill Snapshots and MSI Solutions

Six Sigma
External evidence from McKinsey suggests that companies adopting DMAIC methodologies can achieve productivity gains of up to 20 percent. Yet only 12 percent of frontline managers hold any belt credential. MSI offers popular Six Sigma certification options, including Lean Six Sigma White Belt, Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Six Sigma Green Belt, and Six Sigma Black Belt programs, which are CPD-accredited. Graduates report an average defect rate reduction of 46 percent within the first year.

Project Management
PMI’s latest Pulse study links mature Project Management Offices to 25 percent higher project success rates. Forty one percent of surveyed firms admit lacking consistent governance frameworks. MSI’s Project Management track provides training to prepare for their proprietary project management certification, known as Project Management Qualified (PMQ). This program provides the essential project management knowledge a learner needs to start their project management journey.

Change Management
Prosci finds that initiatives with dedicated change managers are seven times more likely to reach their goals. Yet 62 percent of HR leaders cite low change readiness. MSI’s Change Management Specialist certification program teaches common change management principles with real-world knowledge so managers can translate strategy into adoption.

AI Prompt Engineering
As generative AI moves into core workflows, fewer than one in ten business analysts can design multi step prompts that satisfy enterprise governance rules. MSI’s AI Prompt Engineering Certificate fills that gap through six practical modules that cover model logic, risk controls, and domain-specific prompt stacks.

Leadership
LinkedIn ranks leadership development as the number one corporate learning priority for 2025. Only 28 percent of mid-level managers receive formal leadership training each year. MSI’s Corporate Leadership Certified (CLC) program helps MSI Fellows develop their leadership skills and teaches lean driven strategy execution.

Integrated The Five Learning Pathways

AI insights inform Six Sigma DMAIC, which in turn feeds into project schedules managed under project management governance. Change Management accelerates adoption, while leadership steers the culture and strategy.
“Employers no longer want siloed expertise,” DiLeo added. “They want professionals who can connect data, process, technology, and people. MSI’s modular certifications let learners build a coherent skill lattice at their own pace.”

Recommendations for Employers and Professionals

For Employers
Work belt‑level Six Sigma expectations into your skills charts.
Teach project management alongside change management in your training programs.
Set up AI prompt workshops where teams can try ideas in a safe environment.

For Professionals
Stack MSI credentials to gain market ready expertise.
Leverage MSI’s digital badges and wallet cards to showcase skills online.

About Management and Strategy Institute

The Management and Strategy Institute (msicertified.com) offers fast and affordable online certification for busy professionals worldwide. With more than 400,000 members, MSI offers tracks in Six Sigma, Project Management, Change Management, Leadership, AI Prompt Engineering, and other in-demand business disciplines. The institute’s mission is to equip individuals and organizations with practical skills that drive measurable results, earning a reputation for the best and most respected Six Sigma certification options on the market.

Greg Moore
Management and Strategy Institute
+ +1 484-402-7984
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