Browse Skills thermodynamics

thermodynamics

🏛️ Enduring ESCO reuse: cross-sector

The branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy.

thermodynamics — the branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy. McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the enduring band (SCI 35.72/100) — a human-connection anchor whose value is projected to hold or grow through 2030. ESCO classifies it as a cross-sector (useful across many industries) skill within knowledge. It is currently listed by 14 occupations in our catalogue, including Nuclear engineers, Geothermal Technicians, Solar Energy Systems Engineers, and geothermal engineer.

Category: knowledge › physics SCI: 35.72/100 Also known as: thermo-dynamics, laws of thermodynamics

Occupations that require thermodynamics

Showing top 14 of 14 occupations · ranked by India employment volume, then AI-durability.

Nuclear engineers 👥 1,500 · 🤖 3.9/10
Geothermal Technicians · 🤖 2.2/10
Solar Energy Systems Engineers · 🤖 4.7/10
geothermal engineer · 🤖 5.0/10
geothermal power plant operator · 🤖 5.0/10
heating and ventilation service installer · 🤖 5.0/10
heating technician · 🤖 5.0/10
heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration engineering technician · 🤖 5.0/10
nuclear reactor operator · 🤖 5.0/10
refrigeration air condition and heat pump technician · 🤖 5.0/10
steam engineer · 🤖 5.0/10
steam plant operator · 🤖 5.0/10
steam turbine operator · 🤖 5.0/10
thermal engineer · 🤖 5.0/10

Frequently asked questions

What is thermodynamics?

The branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy.

What category of skill is thermodynamics?

ESCO classifies thermodynamics under the knowledge category, specifically in the physics subcategory.

Is thermodynamics an AI-durable skill?

McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the enduring band (SCI 35.72/100) — a human-connection anchor whose value is projected to hold or grow through 2030. This is a durable skill to invest in — high human-connection skills consistently resist automation.

Which jobs require thermodynamics?

In our catalogue, 14 occupations list thermodynamics as a required or important skill. The top occupations by employment volume include Nuclear engineers, Geothermal Technicians, Solar Energy Systems Engineers, geothermal engineer, geothermal power plant operator, heating and ventilation service installer.

How transferable is thermodynamics between industries?

ESCO tags thermodynamics as a cross-sector (useful across many industries) skill — a signal of how portable it is when you change field.

Is thermodynamics the same as thermo-dynamics?

Yes — thermodynamics is also known as thermo-dynamics, or laws of thermodynamics. They refer to the same underlying capability in the ESCO taxonomy.

How can I learn thermodynamics?

The most reliable path is to pick a job or project that demands thermodynamics 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.

Data: ESCO v1.2.1 (CC-BY-4.0). Durability framework informed by McKinsey Global Institute (Nov 2025). See our methodology.