LinkedIn unveils skills on the rise 2025: 15 must-have skills for the future

LinkedIn has released its Skills on the Rise 2025 report, highlighting the 15 fastest-growing skills that professionals need to stay competitive in an evolving job market. The report highlights emerging skills crucial for professionals to stay relevant. The top fastest-growing skills are creativity and innovation, code review, problem-solving, pre-screening, and strategic thinking.

Evolving skills landscape

By 2030, a staggering 70 per cent of the skills used in most jobs will change, with AI emerging as a primary catalyst for this transformation, according to LinkedIn's Work Change report. This rapid evolution is reshaping skills that are in demand across industries. Additionally, professionals entering the workforce today are on pace to hold twice as many jobs over their careers compared to workers just 15 years ago. This shift underscores the importance of identifying and developing in-demand skills through adaptability and continuous learning.

 Rise of AI skills

AI skills are now essential across almost every industry and are among the most sought-after abilities in today's job market. According to LinkedIn data, the number of members adding AI skills to their profiles has skyrocketed, increasing 20-fold globally since 2016. While AI fluency is essential—95 per cent of C-suite leaders prioritize AI skills—companies seek professionals who can integrate AI expertise with leadership and decision-making. AI adoption has surged globally, with a 20-fold increase in LinkedIn members adding AI skills since 2016.

The UAE saw the highest growth (80x), followed by the US (21x) and Germany (12x). Industries such as Financial Services (40x) and Education (14x) reflect AI’s widespread impact.

15 fastest-growing skills for 2025: The full list

• Creativity & Innovation

• Code Review

• Problem-Solving

• Pre-Screening

• Strategic Thinking

• Communication

• Adaptability

• Large Language Models (LLM)

• AI Literacy

• Debugging

• Customer Engagement

• Statistical Data Analysis

• Prompt Engineering

• Market Analysis

• Stakeholder Management

Growing skills gap

The report reveals significant shifts in the job market:

• 64% of skills used today will change by 2030.

• 69% of recruiters see a mismatch between available talent and required skills.

• 60% of professionals are open to switching industries.

• 39% of professionals plan to upskill to stay relevant.

How business leaders can respond

1. Prioritise soft skills: AI can automate tasks, but it can’t replace creativity, adaptability, and strategic thinking—qualities essential across industries.

2. Invest in upskilling: With 39 per cent of professionals actively learning new skills, companies must foster internal training programs that integrate AI fluency with leadership development.

3. Embrace skills-first hiring: Rather than focusing on degrees or past job titles, businesses should prioritize skills-based hiring to bridge talent shortages.

Business case for in-demand skills

For companies, developing these skills isn't just about workforce agility—it also drives growth. 51 per cent of businesses that adopted generative AI saw a revenue increase of 10 per cent or more in the past two years. Meanwhile, 62 per cent of US hiring managers report a skills mismatch, highlighting the urgent need for companies to rethink their hiring strategies.

Rethinking hiring for the future

Traditional hiring models—focused on degrees and years of experience—are quickly becoming outdated. Skills-based hiring is gaining traction as organizations seek talent that can adapt to technological advancements and industry shifts.

How professionals can stay competitive

• Master AI literacy: AI literacy is appearing in job descriptions 6x more frequently than a year ago.

• Develop soft skills: Creativity, adaptability, and communication remain top differentiators.

• Expand your skill set: Professionals are now adding a 40% broader range of skills to their profiles than in 2018.

As Karin Kimbrough, Chief Economist at LinkedIn, notes, "To successfully navigate the ongoing shifts at work, especially those brought on by AI, organizations, leaders and individuals must adopt a mindset that embraces change and prioritizes continuous learning, skill development, and human-centric approaches." By focusing on developing these in-demand skills, you position yourself for the jobs that exist today and those that will emerge tomorrow. In a world where change is the only constant, your ability to adapt and grow your skills may be your most valuable asset.

AI is reshaping work, but businesses won’t win by hiring AI specialists alone. The future belongs to professionals who blend AI proficiency with human intelligence—creativity, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Companies that invest in these skills today will lead the future of work.