Skills on the Rise: The Fastest-Growing Skills in 2026

• LinkedIn’s Skills on the Rise list identifies the fastest-growing skills across 12 markets, spotlighting where professionals should invest to get ahead.

• The list is based on year-over-year growth in two areas: skill acquisition (skills added to member profiles) and hiring success (skills possessed by members who were hired over the past year).

• Employers are increasingly prioritizing skills over degrees, job titles or linear career paths.

• Related LinkedIn Learning courses are free for all members until March 23, 2026.

The way we work, hire and advance is changing. Employers are looking less at job titles or degrees, and more at what people can actually do. But that shift is also creating uncertainty. According to a recent LinkedIn survey, one in five professionals globally say not having the right skills is making the job search more challenging.

That’s where Skills on the Rise comes in: LinkedIn’s annual list of the fastest-growing skills professionals should be investing in to stay competitive right now.

Global trends defining the skills landscape in 2026

• People skills matter more than ever: Leadership & People Management skills like Cross-Functional Collaboration, Team Management, and Mentorship are increasingly in demand, as are skills around Executive & Stakeholder Communication. As technology becomes a bigger part of everyday work, the ability to communicate with clarity through uncertainty – with skills like Public Speaking and Cross-Functional Coordination – has become critical.

• Business growth in a competitive landscape: In an increasingly competitive and uncertain market, Business and Revenue Growth skills like Go-to-Market Strategy and Business Development are rising as companies focus on strategic revenue growth and expansion into new markets and channels.

• AI goes beyond coding: With AI moving quickly from experimentation to implementation, demand for Technical & Strategic AI skills is growing, focused on the development, iteration and deployment of AI/ML models, like Prompt Engineering and Large Language Models. We’re also seeing AI Business Strategy skills on the rise as companies integrate AI into core business products, services and processes.

• Managing risk in a more complex environment: As regulatory, security, and financial environments continue to evolve, Risk & Compliance Management skills like Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance help companies manage risk with greater accuracy and efficiency.

How to build and showcase in-demand skills

• Professionals looking to upskill can explore LinkedIn Learning courses – including The AI Decision Playbook and Effective Collaboration – available free for all members through March 23, 2026.

• Members can also verify skills and highlight relevant experience on their LinkedIn profile to stand out to recruiters.

Explore the fastest growing skills in your region: 🇦🇺 Australia: 🇧🇷 Brazil: 🇨🇦 Canada: 🇫🇷 France: 🇩🇪 Germany: 🇮🇳 India: 🇮🇹 Italy: 🇳🇱 Netherlands: 🇸🇬 Singapore: 🇪🇸 Spain: 🇬🇧 UK: 🇺🇸 US

Explore function-specific cuts in each market: 🇦🇺 Australia: 🇧🇷 Brazil: 🇨🇦 Canada: 🇫🇷 France: 🇩🇪 Germany: 🇮🇳 India: 🇮🇹 Italy: 🇳🇱 Netherlands: 🇸🇬 Singapore: 🇪🇸 Spain: 🇬🇧 UK: 🇺🇸 US

Join the conversation using #SkillsOnTheRise.

Methodology

Skills on the Rise identifies the fastest-growing skills by analyzing year-over-year growth patterns across two pillars – skill acquisition and hiring success – providing a comprehensive view of skill demand in the job market. Growth rates for all metrics are measured by comparing LinkedIn data from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2025 to the same period in the previous year (December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024). Skill acquisition measures the growth of a given skill being added to member profiles. Hiring success measures the growth of a given skill possessed by members who have been hired in the past year.