LinkedIn Skills on the Rise 2025: The 15 fastest-growing skills in the US

Change is a constant in today’s work landscape, as technological transformations upend ‘business-as-usual’ and force companies and professionals alike to adapt. Artificial intelligence is at the forefront of this shift, and its impact is significant: LinkedIn data reveals that by 2030, 70% of the skills used in most jobs will change. 

For organizations, navigating this transformation means embracing skills-based hiring practices to build a workforce equipped for the future — which could expand global talent pools by 6.1x globally. For professionals, it’s about staying ahead of the curve, whether that’s learning new, in-demand skills or deepening existing areas of expertise. And many are already taking action: a quarter of professionals say they plan to focus on learning new skills this year.   

That’s where LinkedIn’s Skills on the Rise list comes in — our inaugural ranking of the fastest-growing skills that professionals should be investing in to get ahead in today's world of work. From AI Literacy (No. 1) to Adaptability (No. 3), these are the emerging areas that professionals are prioritizing and companies are increasingly hiring for. You can read more about our methodology at the bottom of this article. 

Whether you’re actively on the job hunt or looking to future-proof your career, this list highlights emerging areas of opportunity to help you prepare for what’s next. Ready to get started? Dive into related LinkedIn Learning courses under each skill to start building your expertise (free for all members until April 18). 

Check out the 15 fastest-growing skills in the U.S. — and join the conversation using #SkillsOnTheRise.

You can also check out the Skills on the Rise in 15 job functions, from HR to sales, at the bottom of this article. 

1. AI Literacy

Why it’s on the rise: As AI rapidly transforms industries, companies are increasingly looking for professionals with the ability to understand and utilize tools harnessing that technology for business purposes.* | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Product Manager, Chief Executive Officer | Most common industries: Technology and Internet, Higher Education, IT Services and IT Consulting

💡 Learn about AI systems and how they can benefit your work (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

2. Conflict Mitigation 

Why it’s on the rise: Whether it’s the push and pull of return-to-office policies or managing intergenerational teams, navigating workplace conflicts is critical to fostering collaboration and leading agile teams. | Most common job titles: Customer Service Representative, Administrative Assistant, Project Manager | Most common industries: Technology and Internet, IT Services and IT Consulting, Higher Education

💡 Learn how to transform conflict into collaboration (free until April 18)

3. Adaptability

Why it’s on the rise: With the rapid pace of change in the workplace — from economic shifts to technological advancements — continuous learning and resilience are key to staying ahead of the curve. | Most common job titles: Teacher, Administrative Assistant, Project Manager | Most common industries: Higher Education, Technology and Internet, Media and Telecommunications

💡 Learn how to embrace change as a learning opportunity (free until April 18)

4. Process Optimization

Why it’s on the rise: Organizations are doubling down on operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness to stay competitive and drive sustainable growth amid constant workplace change. | Most common job titles: Operations Manager, Project Manager, Chief Executive Officer | Most common industries: Technology and Internet, Higher Education, Business Consulting and Services 

💡 Learn the strategies for sustainable business transformation (free until April 18)

5. Innovative Thinking

Why it’s on the rise: Creative problem-solving is imperative as AI transforms the work landscape: both in advancing new technologies and in maintaining human ingenuity that machines can’t replace. | Most common job titles: Creative Director, Teacher, Writer | Most common industries: Higher Education, Technology and Internet, Advertising Services

💡Learn how to turn innovative thinking into a regular habit (free until April 18)

6. Public Speaking

Why it’s on the rise: At any career stage — from intern to C-suite — effective verbal communication is essential for inspiring confidence in your ideas and expanding your influence. | Most common job titles: Program and Project Manager, Teacher, Account Manager | Most common industries: Higher Education, Technology and Internet, Media and Telecommunications

💡 Learn the strategies for success in your next presentation (free until April 18)

7. Solution-Based Selling

Why it’s on the rise: As products and services expand in an increasingly crowded market, customers expect tailored, AI-driven solutions that meet their specific needs. | Most common job titles: Account Executive, Sales Manager, Business Development Manager | Most common industries: Technology and Internet, IT Services and IT Consulting, Business Consulting and Services

💡 Learn how to develop the solution mindset to cultivate successful sales relationships (free until April 18)

8. Customer Engagement & Support 

Why it’s on the rise: Fostering authentic relationships with customers and remaining responsive to their needs is critical as businesses face growing competition and tighter spending. | Most common job titles: Account Manager, Project Manager, Store Manager | Most common industries: Technology and Internet, Advertising Services, Business Consulting and Services 

💡 Learn how to drive business growth through customer centricity (free until April 18)

9. Stakeholder Management

Why it’s on the rise: Successfully scaling projects or implementing new business initiatives hinges on identifying and engaging the right stakeholders and balancing their priorities effectively. | Most common job titles: Program and Project Manager, Product Manager, Business Analyst | Most common industries: Technology and Internet, Business Consulting and Services, IT Services and IT Consulting 

💡 Learn how effective stakeholder management can drive project success (free until April 18)

10. Large Language Model (LLM) Development & Application 

Why it’s on the rise: As generative AI's presence grows in the world of work, there’s an increased demand for professionals who can build and work with the systems that power the technology, known as LLMs. | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Research Assistant | Most common industries: Technology and Internet, Higher Education, IT Services and IT Consulting 

💡 Learn to maximize AI to boost your productivity (free until April 18)

11. Budget & Resource Management

Why it’s on the rise: With rising costs and economic uncertainty, organizations are increasingly focused on ensuring their money and materials are being used appropriately and strategically. | Most common job titles: Program and Project Manager, Chief Executive Officer, Operations Manager | Most common industries: Technology and Internet, Advertising Services, Business Consulting and Services

💡 Learn the benefits and strategies for building successful business budgets (free until April 18)

12. Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy

Why it’s on the rise: Developing a comprehensive GTM strategy is critical for businesses launching a new product or service — especially as consumer behavior shifts and new technology increases competition. | Most common job titles: Product Manager, Marketing Manager, Account Executive | Most common industries: Technology and Internet, Business Consulting and Services, Advertising Services 

💡 Learn how to create an effective GTM plan (free until April 18)

13. Regulatory Compliance

Why it’s on the rise: As organizations across industries navigate stricter data privacy laws (like DMA and GDPR) and shifting financial regulations, understanding and adhering to new regulatory standards is a growing priority. | Most common job titles: Vice President of Business Services, Project Manager, General Counsel | Most common industries: Credit Intermediation, Capital Markets, Technology and Internet 

💡 Learn the basics of modern data regulation for businesses (free until April 18)

14. Growth Strategy 

Why it’s on the rise: Businesses are learning from the post-pandemic boom that unchecked growth is not always sustainable, putting an increased focus on strategic growth when expanding offerings for long-term stability. | Most common job titles: Account Executive, Chief Executive Officer, Business Development Manager | Most common industries: Technology and Internet, Advertising Services, Business Consulting and Services 

💡 Learn how to design strategies for profitable growth (free until April 18)

15. Risk Assessment

Why it’s on the rise: Identifying and preparing for potential threats is a top priority for organizations as they attempt to prepare for the unexpected in today’s unpredictable economic, regulatory and technological landscape. | Most common job titles: Program and Project Manager, Chief Executive Officer, Underwriter | Most common industries: Credit Intermediation, Higher Education, Technology and Internet 

💡 Learn how to approach risk management in our modern work landscape (free until April 18)

*LinkedIn data shows that both technical and nontechnical members are adding "Artificial Intelligence" as a skill. For the purposes of this list, we have renamed this skill as "AI Literacy," to reflect that members adding “Artificial Intelligence” as a skill are increasingly leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, while not necessarily learning AI technical skills. Other AI technical skills (i.e. LLMs) appear further down on the list.

Explore the Skills on the Rise in 15 job functions below.

You can also check out the Skills on the Rise in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Spain and the UK.

List 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). 

Data is normalized across all skills. Language skills, basic digital literacy skills and overly broad skills are excluded.

Skill Insights 

Additional data points for each of the skills are based on LinkedIn profiles of members possessing the skill in the country. Most common industries measure the industries most prevalent among members who held that skill on LinkedIn from January 1 to December 31, 2024. Most common job titles represent the occupations that are most common among members holding that skill from January 1 to December 31, 2024. 

Methodology and insights by: LinkedIn's Economic Graph and Scaled Insights teams