LinkedIn has released its Skills on the Rise 2025 list, revealing the top 15 skills that professionals need to stay competitive. The fastest-growing skills include creativity and innovation (#1), code review (#2), and problem-solving (#3).
With 64% of job skills expected to change by 2030, LinkedIn’s research shows that 25% of professionals worry about lacking the right skills. In Bengaluru, 43% struggle to determine if they are a good job fit, and 35% don’t know if their skills match job requirements. Meanwhile, 69% of recruiters in India report a skills gap.
Soft Skills take centre stage
As AI automates tasks, human-centric skills are in demand. Creativity, problem-solving, and strategic thinking are no longer optional—they are essential. These skills are not just needed in creative fields but also in business development and education. Communication is also crucial across IT, consulting, sales, HR, and finance.
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.”
AI Literacy is a must
AI skills are becoming necessary across all industries. With 95% of C-Suite leaders prioritising AI expertise, skills like Large Language Models (#8), AI literacy (#9), and prompt engineering (#13) are crucial. While these skills were once limited to IT, they are now expanding into education and marketing.
Customer engagement is in demand
With businesses focusing on growth, customer engagement (#11) is a key skill in sales, business development, and marketing. Professionals who can build strong customer relationships will have an edge in the job market.
Bengaluru professionals seek new jobs
LinkedIn research shows that 86% of professionals in Bengaluru plan to switch jobs in 2025. However, 50% are applying more but getting fewer responses. To help them, LinkedIn has released its Jobs on the Rise list, outlining the fastest-growing roles.
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
Jobs on the rise in Bengaluru
- Brand Associate
- Power System Engineer
- Artificial Intelligence Engineer
- Communications Associate
- Facilities Manager
- Sales Development Manager
- Electrical Manager
- Delivery Consultant
- Piping Design Engineer
- Logistics Specialist
How Professionals can adapt
LinkedIn experts suggest professionals take stock of their skills, highlight soft skills on their profiles, and invest in growth areas. Adding skills to LinkedIn profiles can boost recruiter visibility. Professionals can also take online courses and gain experience through volunteer roles.
To support career growth, LinkedIn Learning is offering free courses and AI-powered coaching for workplace skills development.
