natural language processing
The technologies which enable ICT devices to understand and interact with users through human language.
natural language processing — the technologies which enable ICT devices to understand and interact with users through human language. McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the declining band (SCI 50.68/100) — a skill likely to fall in demand as AI and automation cover more of its ground by 2030, and is one of the Technical AI skills McKinsey identifies as specialised for AI-building work. ESCO classifies it as a sector-specific (rooted in one industry) skill within knowledge. It is currently listed by 2 occupations in our catalogue, including knowledge engineer, and language engineer.
Occupations that require natural language processing
Showing top 2 of 2 occupations · ranked by India employment volume, then AI-durability.
Frequently asked questions
What is natural language processing?
The technologies which enable ICT devices to understand and interact with users through human language.
What category of skill is natural language processing?
ESCO classifies natural language processing under the knowledge category, specifically in the language acquisition subcategory.
Is natural language processing an AI-durable skill?
McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the declining band (SCI 50.68/100) — a skill likely to fall in demand as AI and automation cover more of its ground by 2030. Prioritise this skill only when it directly enables paid work today — plan for AI to absorb more of it every year.
Is natural language processing one of the Technical AI skills?
Yes — natural language processing is on McKinsey's Technical AI shortlist, the set of specialised skills relevant to building, tuning, and deploying AI systems rather than just using them.
Which jobs require natural language processing?
In our catalogue, 2 occupations list natural language processing as a required or important skill. The top occupations by employment volume include knowledge engineer, language engineer.
How transferable is natural language processing between industries?
ESCO tags natural language processing as a sector-specific (rooted in one industry) skill — a signal of how portable it is when you change field.
Is natural language processing the same as NLP?
Yes — natural language processing is also known as NLP. They refer to the same underlying capability in the ESCO taxonomy.
How can I learn natural language processing?
The most reliable path is to pick a job or project that demands natural language processing and learn through delivery. Complement that with role-specific roadmaps and short courses. Explore the occupations below to see where this skill is used in practice.