LinkedIn Reveals Top Skills for 2025: AI Literacy and Human-Centric Abilities Take Center Stage

LinkedIn Reveals India's Top Skills for 2025, AI Literacy Takes Lead

As AI automates routine tasks, human-centric skills like creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and strategic thinking are becoming increasingly valuable. LinkedIn, the world's largest professional networking platform, has unveiled its 'Skills on the Rise' ranking, identifying the top 15 skills professionals need to stay competitive in the evolving job market in 2025. In India, the fastest-growing skills include creativity and innovation, code review, problem-solving, pre-screening, and strategic thinking. With 64% of job-related skills expected to change by 2030, LinkedIn research highlights that 25% of professionals are concerned about their future skills, 60% are open to shifting industries, and 39% plan to acquire new skills. Moreover, 69% of recruiters report a gap between candidate skills and business requirements. AI literacy is emerging as an essential competency across industries. Malai Lakshmanan, head of India engineering at LinkedIn, emphasised, "AI literacy is becoming essential, with our latest data showing a growing demand for skills like large language models (LLMs) and prompt engineering for tech roles in India. At the same time, foundational engineering strengths, such as software design and code review, remain critical for building high-quality, scalable solutions." She mentioned that we are at a pivotal moment where mastery of core technology skills like design and coding is just as important as new-age AI capabilities for engineers. Professionals who combine these strengths will be best prepared to thrive in the agentic AI future that lies ahead. As AI automates routine tasks, human-centric skills like creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and strategic thinking are becoming increasingly valuable, not just in marketing and design but also in business development and education. Communication, once primarily linked to sales and HR, is now considered critical in IT, consulting, and finance. AI skills are transitioning from an advantage to a baseline expectation, with 95% of Indian C-suite leaders prioritising AI proficiency over traditional experience. Skills like LLMs, AI literacy, and prompt engineering are now in high demand across industries beyond tech, including education and marketing. Meanwhile, businesses are placing a stronger focus on customer engagement, a skill that has gained importance in sales, business development, and marketing, as companies seek to strengthen brand loyalty and foster lasting customer relationships. Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn's senior managing editor for India, advises professionals to assess their existing skillsets, highlight soft skills prominently on their LinkedIn profiles, and actively pursue learning opportunities through online courses, stretch assignments, or volunteer work. Data suggests that members who list five or more skills on their profiles receive significantly higher profile views and recruiter engagement. LinkedIn's List of Emerging Jobs for 2025 LinkedIn recently released a list of jobs that have gained prominence due to AI redefining hiring practices in 2025. This highlights the need for individuals to upskill and embrace new opportunities to remain competitive in the job market. Among the most sought-after roles is the AI engineer, who is responsible for designing and training AI models and algorithms to address complex problems and enhance system performance.

Skills that will keep you ahead in 2025 - and why they matter

LinkedIn's Skills on the Rise 2025 list highlights the evolving skill demands in India, where companies are seeking a mix of creativity, problem-solving, and strategic thinking alongside technical expertise. As AI transforms the workplace, 95% of Indian C-suite leaders say AI skills are crucial, with a focus on AI literacy and Large Language Models. The workplace is changing fast, and LinkedIn's Skills on the Rise 2025 list shows exactly what companies in India are looking for. With 64% of job skills expected to change by 2030, professionals are feeling the heat -- a quarter worry about staying relevant, six in ten are open to switching industries and nearly 40% plan to learn new skills. Alarmingly, nearly seven in ten recruiters in India are reporting a mismatch of skills between what professionals possess and what a company needs. But here's the twist: employers aren't just after tech wizards. They want creativity, problem-solving, and strategic thinking just as much as AI know-how. "India Inc. is experiencing a fundamental skills reset," said Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn career expert. AI is taking over routine tasks, but what it can't do (yet) is think outside the box. That's why creativity and innovation top the list, followed closely by problem-solving and strategic thinking. These aren't just for designers and marketers anymore -- business leaders, educators, and tech professionals need them too. If you're still on the fence about AI, here's a wake-up call: 95% of C-suite leaders in India say AI skills now matter more than traditional experience. That's why AI literacy (#9), Large Language Models (LLM) (#8), and prompt engineering (#13) have become must-haves. And not just for coders -- AI is reshaping education, marketing, and even customer service. "As AI changes the way we work, soft skills like creativity, problem-solving, and strategic thinking are no longer 'nice to have'; they're business-critical. At the same time, AI literacy is becoming a baseline expectation across all job functions," said Banerjee. Another skill climbing the ranks? Communication (#6). And no, that doesn't just mean being good at small talk -- it's about making complex ideas clear, whether you're in IT, consulting, or finance. Companies aren't just chasing profits; they're chasing loyal customers. That's why customer engagement (#11) has made it to the list, along with stakeholder management (#15). Whether you're in sales, marketing, or business development, knowing how to build lasting relationships is now a major competitive edge. "Employers are also doubling down on customer engagement and stakeholder management, making business acumen more valuable than ever," said Banerjee. So, What's in Demand for 2025? Here's the full list of skills that can help future-proof your career: 1. Creativity and Innovation 2. Code Review 3. Problem Solving 4. Pre-screening 5. Strategic Thinking 6. Communication 7. Adaptability 8. Large Language Models (LLM) 9. AI Literacy 10. Debugging 11. Customer Engagement 12. Statistical Data Analysis 13. Prompt Engineering 14. Market Analysis 15. Stakeholder Management

15 fastest growing skills that Indians need to stay ahead at work: LinkedIn Skills on the Rise 2025

3 out of the top 5 skills on the rise in India are human skills Communication is a critical skill across IT, Business Development, Sales, Consulting, HR, and Finance AI literacy and LLMs move beyond IT as education and marketing functions embrace AI and tech fluency LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network, has launched the Skills on the Rise 2025 list, spotlighting 15 skills that professionals should invest in to stay ahead at work. The top 5 fastest growing skills that companies in India are hiring for include creativity and innovation (#1), code review (#2), problem solving (#3), pre-screening (#4), and strategic thinking (#5). With 64% of the skills used in most jobs projected to change by 2030 in India, LinkedIn research shows that 25% of professionals worry about not having the skills needed for the future, 60% are open to switching industries, and 39% plan to learn new skills. On the other hand, 69% of recruiters in India report a skills mismatch between the skills professionals have and the skills companies need. Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn Career Expert and India Senior Managing Editor says, "India Inc. is experiencing a fundamental skills reset. As AI changes the way we work, soft skills like creativity, problem solving, and strategic thinking are no longer 'nice to have'; they're business-critical. At the same time, AI literacy is becoming a baseline expectation across all job functions. Employers are also doubling down on customer engagement and stakeholder management, making business acumen more valuable than ever. This year's Skills on the Rise list is a must-have resource for professionals to identify and learn the skills that companies are hiring for in 2025." Soft skills take centre stage As AI automates tasks, the skills that set professionals apart are becoming deeply human. Creativity and innovation (#1), problem solving (#3) and strategic thinking (#5) are seeing increased demand, not just in traditionally creative fields like arts & design and marketing, but also in business development and education. Similarly, communication is now essential beyond people-centric roles like sales and HR, extending into IT, consulting, and finance. AI literacy is a baseline expectation across job functions The ability to work with AI is a mainstay in today's work landscape. With 95% of C-Suite leaders in India prioritising AI skills over traditional experience, Large Language Models (LLM) (#8), AI literacy (#9), and prompt engineering (#13) skills are becoming key differentiators for job applicants. While these skills have traditionally been associated with IT, their growing relevance in education and marketing highlights the expanding role of AI and tech fluency across job functions. Customer engagement skills are in demand across India Inc. As companies sharpen their focus on business growth, strong customer relationships remain a top priority. Customer engagement (#11) is a critical skill -- with an increasing emphasis on customer satisfaction -- across sales, business development, and marketing functions. Professionals who can help businesses build enduring customer relations and loyalty will have an advantage. Here are this year's Top 15 Skills on The Rise in India: Creativity and 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 LinkedIn's career expert Nirajita Banerjee shares tips to help professionals unlock new opportunities: Take stock of what you've got. Go back through your job history to do a skills inventory. Don't forget to consider skills you've gained from other experiences including volunteering, sports clubs - you likely have more skills than you thought! This exercise will help you ID skills to highlight during your job search and can help remind you of skills that you would want to build in the future. Show off your soft skills. While many jobs require technical skills, skills like communication and adaptability are in demand and are super transferable across roles and industries. These skills matter to employers, so don't bury the lead - members who list five or more skills receive up to 5.6x more profile views from recruiters and 24x recruiter InMails, and are 2.9x more likely to receive connection requests. Be sure to add your skills to your profile, and include context that demonstrates the impact your skills have made. Go skill surfing and get in growth mode. Identify the areas of growth - possibly around skills that you were missing for a specific job you want, as detailed in the job description. You can then check out your company's continuing education offerings or ask for a stretch assignment in your current role. Take online courses like those offered by LinkedIn Learning, or take on a volunteer role for a local club or organisation. Don't be afraid to try new things and get out of your comfort zone - you'll be building your skills muscle. To support professionals, LinkedIn Learning is offering free courses to help them develop these essential skills. Additionally, LinkedIn's new AI-powered coaching feature enables learners to practice real-world workplace conversations -- like performance reviews and feedback discussions -- using text or voice, with personalised feedback to build confidence. ### Methodology: LinkedIn measures the growth of skills based on three pillars: skill acquisition, hiring success and emerging demand. Skill acquisition counts the rate at which members are adding new skills to their profile. Hiring success is measured by the share of a skill possessed by members who have been hired in the past year. Emerging demand measures the increased presence of a given skill in paid job postings. Growth rates for all metrics are measured by comparing LinkedIn data from January 1 to December 31, 2024 to the same period in the previous year (January 1 to December 31, 2023). About LinkedIn: LinkedIn connects the world's professionals to make them more productive and successful and transforms the way companies hire, learn, market, and sell. Our vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce through the ongoing development of the world's first Economic Graph. LinkedIn has more than one billion members and has offices around the globe. www.linkedin.com / mobile.linkedin.com.

Top 10 tech skills on the rise in India: Upskill for better jobs says LinkedIn

Ever wondered which skills will define the future of work in India? As industries rapidly evolve, staying ahead of the curve has never been more important. A new report from LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network, highlights the top 15 skills that companies in India are hiring for in 2025, with a sharp focus on tech-related expertise. From AI fluency to debugging, mastering these skills can be the key to landing high-growth jobs in the years ahead. According to LinkedIn's 'Skills on the Rise 2025' report, 64% of the skills used in most jobs in India are projected to change by 2030. With 69% of recruiters reporting a skills mismatch in the workforce, professionals need to upskill to remain competitive. While soft skills such as creativity and problem-solving are gaining prominence, the demand for tech-focused capabilities is growing even faster. In LinkedIn's list, there are a total of 15 skills, but we made sure to extrapolate the 10 that you need to build a successful career in tech. So, what are the most sought-after tech skills in India right now? Let's dive into the top 10 that are shaping the job market: Code review has become an essential skill for software developers, quality assurance engineers, and tech leads. Companies are investing in strong review processes to maintain clean, efficient, and bug-free code. Mastering code review not only enhances technical expertise but also improves collaboration within development teams. Also Read: Petteri Murto of Sennheiser talks about navigating the challenging Asia-Pacific business audio landscape AI is no longer limited to IT professionals. With the rise of generative AI, LLMs are finding applications in marketing, education, and customer service. Professionals skilled in LLMs can leverage AI-driven solutions to enhance content generation, automate tasks, and improve decision-making processes. AI literacy is quickly becoming a baseline expectation. With 95% of C-suite leaders in India prioritising AI skills over traditional experience, employees across various functions - from HR to finance - are expected to understand AI's impact and applications. Whether it's using AI-powered analytics or automating workflows, tech fluency is now a necessity. Tech professionals who can quickly identify and fix errors are invaluable. Debugging is not just about finding faults but also about optimising code efficiency and performance. With companies increasingly relying on software-driven solutions, those skilled in debugging will remain in high demand. As AI-powered tools like ChatGPT become mainstream, prompt engineering has emerged as a critical skill. Writing effective prompts for AI models can significantly impact content quality, automation processes, and even customer interactions. This niche but rapidly growing skill is reshaping how businesses use AI for efficiency and engagement. Businesses are relying on data more than ever. Statistical data analysis helps organisations interpret trends, forecast outcomes, and drive strategic decisions. Professionals with expertise in data analytics tools like Python, R, and SQL will continue to be in high demand. Also Read: Harmonising Sustainability and Sound - How a design student made headphones out of bamboo Market analysis involves studying industry trends, customer behaviour, and competitor strategies. With India's digital economy expanding rapidly, professionals who can analyse data to craft winning business strategies will have a competitive edge. While not traditionally seen as a tech skill, stakeholder management is crucial in IT projects. Whether working on enterprise software, AI implementations, or cloud migrations, professionals who can align tech solutions with business objectives are indispensable. Customer engagement is becoming increasingly technology-driven. AI chatbots, CRM tools, and data analytics are helping businesses personalise interactions, improve retention, and boost sales. Understanding how to leverage tech for better customer relations is a game-changer in today's digital marketplace. The only constant in technology is change. Adaptability is a crucial skill for professionals navigating new tools, evolving platforms, and shifting industry standards. Those who can quickly learn and apply new technologies will stay ahead of the competition. LinkedIn's experts recommend taking a proactive approach to upskilling. Whether it's enrolling in online courses, participating in coding challenges, or working on real-world projects, professionals must consistently refine their technical abilities. Platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Udemy offer extensive courses on AI, coding, data analytics, and more. Also Read: Gen Z looks at likes and positive reviews before buying gadgets, says Accenture Beyond formal learning, networking with industry professionals, attending tech webinars, and contributing to open-source projects can significantly boost one's expertise. Professionals should also highlight their skills on their LinkedIn profiles - data shows that members listing five or more skills receive up to 5.6x more profile views from recruiters. India's job market is undergoing a massive transformation, driven by AI, digitalisation, and evolving industry needs. To stay competitive, professionals must embrace lifelong learning and continuously upskill. Whether you're a software engineer, marketing professional, or business strategist, the demand for tech-savvy talent is growing across industries. With companies prioritising skills over degrees, now is the perfect time to invest in learning. The future belongs to those who can innovate, analyse, and adapt - and the right tech skills will open doors to exciting career opportunities. The next big question: which skill will you master first?