Made by Dyslexia Intelligence 5.0

Dyslexic skills key to thriving in an AI-driven workforce, new report reveals

A new report by global charity Made By Dyslexia and Randstad suggests that the current workforce is not equipped to meet the challenges of an AI-driven future. The groundbreaking Intelligence 5.0 report reveals that the skills inherent to dyslexic people — such as problem solving, creativity, adaptability and communication — are the most sought-after in every job sector across the globe.

The Intelligence 5.0 report calls for a radical shift in how the world talks about, teaches and measures intelligence. In today's AI-dominated workplace, traditional metrics like exams and psychometric tests fail to capture the human-centric skills needed for success. These testing methods, used from school age through to workplace, show the antiquation of the current system, especially as just 1 in 5 Dyslexics believe their workplace understands their strengths.

The research highlights that dyslexics naturally excel in the human skills required for the future of work. Dyslexic Thinking matches the top three in-demand core skills across all major job sectors: complex problem solving, analytical thinking, leadership and creativity. But this isn’t being reflected in the modern workplace, with 96% of dyslexics feeling that the hiring process does not aim to recognize their unique strengths, though 66% of HR leaders say they understand the value of Dyslexic Thinking.

With over 1 billion jobs expected to transform due to technology by 2030, it’s clear that a new approach to workforce development is needed. According to the OECD, innovation and reskilling will be critical in preparing for these shifts.

Made By Dyslexia’s founder and CEO Kate Griggs said of the report: “The Intelligence 5.0 report proves that it's time to rethink how we define and measure intelligence. Dyslexic Thinkers are not just equipped for the future of work— they are essential to it. AI is reshaping the workforce at a speed we’ve never seen before, and it’s demanding a different kind of intelligence — one that is driven by creativity, problem solving, and human skills. These are precisely the skills that Dyslexic Thinkers have in abundance, yet they’re too often overlooked by traditional systems.”

HRH Princess Beatrice, who is an Ambassador for Made By Dyslexia said: “Made By Dyslexia’s thought-provoking Intelligence 5.0 Report is calling on us all to re-evaluate intelligence for the new AI world. It finds that soft skills we often don’t measure have become the ones we need to treasure, and this includes Dyslexic Thinking skills. We need to evolve education and workplaces to empower Dyslexic Thinking, not disadvantage it.”

These findings come as the charity, alongside Sir Richard Branson, launches the world’s first university for Dyslexic Thinking, DyslexicU. The free online platform, created in collaboration with The Open University, aims to close the skills gap and teach the world about the unique abilities of Dyslexic Thinkers. The Intelligence 5.0 report confirms that Dyslexic Thinkers are key to unlocking the future of work, and DyslexicU is a crucial step in preparing today’s workforce for tomorrow’s challenges. 

Michael Smith, chief executive of Randstad Enterprise commented: "According to our research, Dyslexic Thinking skills irrespective of industry and geography continue to be the most sought after skills in the workplace today. Organizations need to ensure that they are tailoring their talent processes to attract, develop and retain these skills in order to future proof their workforce. Organizations have a unique opportunity to accelerate their competitive edge by thoughtfully altering their talent practices to include those with Dyslexic Thinking skills — the very skills that will power the next industrial revolution.