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

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 organisations, navigating this transformation means embracing skills-based hiring practices to build a workforce equipped for the future —?which could expand 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 to Strategic Thinking, these are the emerging areas of expertise that professionals are prioritising and that companies are increasingly hiring for right now. 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 the emerging areas of opportunity to get ahead. 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).?

You can also check out the Skills on the Rise in 10 job functions at the bottom of this article.?

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

1. Creativity and Innovation

Why it’s on the rise: As global competition and technological advancements surge, the ability to generate fresh ideas and innovative solutions has become crucial for businesses to differentiate themselves. | Most common job titles: Graphic Designer, Teacher, Marketing Specialist | Most common industries: Higher Education, Technology, Information and Internet, IT Services and IT Consulting

?? Learn how to get creative in a team setting (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

2. Code Review

Why it’s on the rise: With the increasing complexity of software development and a rise in cybersecurity threats, maintaining high code quality, ensuring security, and fostering collaborative learning are some essentials to thrive in a fast-evolving tech landscape. | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, System Engineer, Web Developer | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services

?? Learn what it takes to become a pro code reviewer (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

3. Problem Solving

Why it’s on the rise: As industries adapt to rapid technological advancements, changing market conditions, and shifting consumer demands — the ability to analyse and develop solutions is key to navigating uncertainties and driving growth. | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, System Engineer, Managing Partner | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services

?? Learn how to make root cause analysis work for you (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

4. Pre-screening

Why it’s on the rise: Amid the growing demand for specialised skills and a highly competitive job market — effective pre-screening is essential for businesses to identify qualified candidates and streamline the recruitment process. | Most common job titles: Talent Acquisition Specialist, Technical Recruiter, Human Resources Executive | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Business Consulting and Services, Staffing and Recruiting

?? Learn the basics of recruiting and hiring practices (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

5. Strategic Thinking

Why it’s on the rise: With increasing market volatility and evolving industry trends, the ability to anticipate future challenges and opportunities, and strategically plan and align resources for long-term success is vital among professionals. | Most common job titles: Sales Manager, General Manager, Project Manager | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services

?? Learn how to apply strategic thinking to make better decisions (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

6. Communication

Why it’s on the rise: With diverse teams, workplace flexibility, and cross-functional projects becoming the norm, strong communication skills ensure clear articulation of ideas, foster collaboration, and maintain productivity in the workplace. | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Business Analyst, Project Manager | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services

?? Learn how to communicate better to get ahead in your career (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

7. Adaptability

Why it’s on the rise: With the rapid pace of change in the workplace — from the ongoing return-to-office push to technological advancements — continuous learning and resilience are key to staying ahead of the curve. | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Human Resources Specialist, Teacher | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services

?? Learn how to embrace changes as learning opportunities (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

8. Large Language Models (LLM)

Why it’s on the rise: As companies increasingly rely on AI for tasks like automation and data analysis, professionals with proficiency in developing and applying large language models can help promote innovation and maintain a competitive edge. | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Artificial Intelligence Engineer | Most common industries: Technology, Information and Internet, IT Services and IT Consulting, Higher Education

?? Learn to maximise AI to boost your productivity (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

9. 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 utilise tools harnessing that technology for business purposes. | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Data Scientist | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Higher Education

?? Learn more about AI systems and how it can streamline your work (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

10. Debugging

Why it’s on the rise: In an age where software updates and new features are rolled out rapidly, prompt troubleshooting and bug resolution skills have become essential for tech professionals to ensure seamless user experiences and maintain customer satisfaction. | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, System Engineer, Frontend Developer | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services

?? Learn essential strategies to minimise errors and boost software security (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

11. Customer Engagement

Why it’s on the rise: The need for businesses to build strong, lasting relationships and enhance brand loyalty in a competitive market makes customer engagement a critical skill to drive growth and ensure satisfaction. | Most common job titles: Sales Manager, Relationship Manager, Project Manager | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Credit Intermediation

?? Learn how to drive business growth through customer centricity (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

12. Statistical Data Analysis

Why it’s on the rise: Amid the growing emphasis on data-driven decision-making, the ability to perform statistical data analysis is vital for companies to uncover trends, optimise processes, and stay ahead. | Most common job titles: Data Analyst, Software Engineer, Data Engineer | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services

?? Learn how to use Excel to make data-driven decisions (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

13. Prompt Engineering

Why it’s on the rise: As the use of AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants expands across sectors, expertise in prompt engineering is crucial for optimising user interactions and enhancing the effectiveness of automated responses. | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Artificial Intelligence Engineer | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services

?? Learn the basics of prompt engineering for effective AI interactions (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

14. Market Analysis

Why it’s on the rise: From identifying opportunities and potential threats to understanding consumer behaviour — the ability to conduct thorough market analysis offers businesses with insights needed to make informed decisions. | Most common job titles: Sales Manager, Product Manager, Business Development Manager | Most common industries: Technology, Information and Internet, IT Services and IT Consulting, Business Consulting and Services

?? Learn the best practices to conduct market analysis (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

15. Stakeholder Management

Why it’s on the rise: Due to the increasing complexity of projects and the need to align diverse interests, stakeholder management skills have become crucial for businesses to facilitate communication and aim for successful outcomes. | Most common job titles: Project Manager, Business Analyst, Product Manager | Most common industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services

?? Learn how effective stakeholder management can drive career success (free LinkedIn Learning course 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) also appear on the list.

Explore the Skills on the Rise across 10 job functions below.

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

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 normalised 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

Editor: Dipal Desai