Updated September 2025
Hiring strategies are trending toward a skills-based approach—focusing on what skills a candidate has to offer rather than focusing solely on degrees. For job seekers, that means it’s time to enhance your portfolio of skills to take advantage of this shift in hiring ideology.
By assessing transferability, value, and which industries are showing the most growth—and talking with our internal experts Jeremy McLoone and Keith Simpson—we’ve put together a list of skills that are in high demand in 2026 and beyond.
Soft vs. Hard Skills
Before diving into the most in-demand skills, let’s briefly go over the difference between hard and soft skills.
Hard skills are also known as technical skills, and they are considered more measurable than soft skills. These can typically be learned or taught, and they’re easier for employers to evaluate or quantify. Examples of technical skills include things like foreign languages, accounting, programming languages, or writing.
Soft skills, also referred to as durable skills, are a little bit more difficult to quantify. And they can also be a bit trickier to learn, too. However, the advantage to soft or durable skills is that when you have them, you’re less likely to lose them. And because they’re not always something you can just pick up—like learning a new trick—they can also be more attractive to employers. Examples of soft skills include communication, leadership, and time management.
As Keith says, “I think soft skills—being able to talk to people and talk about your experience and just have a good conversation—is going to outweigh some of those other technical capabilities that you might not have.”
Most In-Demand Skills 2026
In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, employees with in-demand skills help companies compete, adapt, and innovate. Here’s a list of hard and soft skills in high demand in 2026.
AI Proficiency
AI proficiency has become one of the most in-demand skills of the modern age, as artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries from marketing and HR to manufacturing and finance. Employers are seeking candidates who not only understand how AI works but can also apply it to solve real-world problems—whether through prompt engineering, data analysis, or workflow automation.
AI fluency is now considered a competitive advantage, with organizations investing in upskilling programs and certifications to build change-ready teams. This doesn’t mean you need to become a machine learning engineer—unless you want to! In that case, you should focus on learning not just how to understand and use AI, but how to preprocess data, understand programming languages, and build an AI framework.
But if you aren’t looking for an AI-specific role, you’ll only need a basic grasp on AI tools. Employees in general should explore AI to understand how to write good prompting, which tool is the best for their needs, and how to get the output they want from the one they choose. Focus on how you can integrate AI into your current job duties and find ways to utilize AI to streamline your processes.
From chatbot development to AI-powered content generation, professionals who can leverage AI tools effectively are helping companies boost efficiency, personalize customer experiences, and stay ahead of the curve. As AI adoption accelerates, jobseekers with hands-on experience and strategic understanding of AI will be well-positioned for high-impact roles across sectors.
Communication
Communication is the linchpin that holds all other aspects of business together. It helps build relationships and foster teamwork and is a crucial skill for effective conflict resolution and crisis management.
Skilled communicators can help convey ideas effectively, driving action. Effective communication can significantly impact an organization’s success in today’s complex and increasingly hybrid business environment.
Businesses seek candidates who can write clearly and concisely, speak persuasively, and listen attentively. “Be able to communicate within a team environment. Sometimes it’s arguably more important than the actual work experience,” Jeremy says.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EQ) has emerged as a defining soft skill, especially as workplaces navigate the balance between human connection and technological advancement. In an era increasingly shaped by AI and automation, EQ stands out for its irreplaceable human qualities—empathy, self-awareness, adaptability, and interpersonal communication.
Employers are prioritizing candidates who can build strong relationships, resolve conflict, and foster inclusive team dynamics—skills that machines cannot replicate. Whether in client-facing roles or collaborative environments, EQ is emphasized as essential for long-term career growth and cultural fit. Keith agrees on its importance: “I just keep going back to those soft skills and just emotional intelligence. I think that’s going to take people to the next level.”
Project Management
Project management includes strategic planning, resource allocation, risk assessment, and more. A skilled project manager can oversee complex tasks from inception to completion. It’s a skill that ensures projects are completed on time and budget.
Efficient resource utilization is essential for the financial health of a business. Skilled project managers harness the skills and attention of the team toward efficiently achieving objectives.
Data Literacy
Data literacy involves being able to analyze, interpret, and utilize data in actionable ways—such as gaining insights on customer demographics and behaviors or building predictive models. These skills help companies reduce risk, increase efficiencies, improve ROI, adapt to market trends, and more.
Data literacy also helps individuals set up systems that utilize data in real-time and helpful ways. For example, a bank wants to identify potential fraudulent charges more efficiently. They hire someone proficient in data literacy to set up a system that analyzes all transaction details and uses machine learning to flag their team when they see a potential fraud.
Creativity
Creativity is increasingly recognized as a must-have skill, especially as companies seek fresh ideas to stay competitive in rapidly evolving industries. Whether it’s developing innovative solutions, crafting compelling content, or reimagining workflows, creative thinkers bring unique value to organizations.
While creativity is usually linked to artistic expression, it’s also about problem-solving, adaptability, and the ability to connect disparate ideas in meaningful ways. Employers are looking for candidates who can think beyond conventional boundaries and contribute to strategic initiatives with originality and insight.
Web and Software Development
Businesses rely on technology to operate. From client-facing websites to proprietary operational software, web and software developers automate business processes, reduce manual labor, and increase business efficiency.
Web and software developers can give companies a competitive edge by helping them stay agile, keep their data secure, lead the pack with technological advancements, and create exceptional websites or apps that offer a seamless user experience.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is a soft skill that helps businesses navigate complexities, make sound decisions, and implement long-term plans. It’s a valuable skill for businesses of all sizes. It helps them achieve their objectives and stay ahead of the competition.
Critical thinkers can help identify potential risks and develop contingency plans, efficiently allocate resources, pivot in response to changes in the business market, and innovate.
Problem-Solving
Problem-solving is a highly sought after skill that helps organizations face increasingly complex challenges across industries. Hiring managers are placing greater emphasis on evaluating a candidate’s problem-solving process—not just the final answer—to ensure they can navigate real-world scenarios effectively.
Employers are looking for candidates who don’t just identify issues but also think critically and creatively to resolve them. As technology evolves and business needs shift, problem-solvers help companies stay competitive and resilient.This skill is especially valuable in roles that require adaptability, strategic thinking, and cross-functional collaboration.
Collaboration
Collaboration has become a cornerstone of workplace success, especially as organizations embrace hybrid and distributed team structures. Employers are increasingly prioritizing candidates who can work effectively across departments, time zones, and communication platforms.
This soft skill is rising in importance because it’s about fostering trust, navigating diverse perspectives, and contributing to a cohesive team culture. Whether in-person or remote, professionals who demonstrate strong collaborative skills are better equipped to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and adapt to evolving business needs.
Industry/Role-specific skills
Industry and role-specific specialized skills are increasingly vital as employers seek candidates who can hit the ground running with minimal ramp-up time. Companies are prioritizing applicants with direct experience in their sector—this trend reflects a shift toward precision hiring, where specialized knowledge not only boosts productivity but also enhances cultural fit and retention.
While there is certainly high-demand for transferrable skills (whether hard or soft) that are beneficial no matter the industry or position, more specialized skills face high demand and much lower supply.
“There’s a need for niche skill sets or niche backgrounds where there is a very small candidate pool across the nation that specializes in that. So individuals who have that background or have those certifications, there’s a big need and want for them,” Jeremy explains. As industries evolve and job roles become more complex, possessing tailored expertise can be the key differentiator that sets candidates apart in competitive markets.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity stands out as an essential skill, driven by the exponential rise in digital threats and the growing reliance on cloud-based systems. With cyberattacks occurring about 4,000 times per day and data breaches costing an average of $4.88 million, organizations across industries—from healthcare to finance—are urgently seeking professionals who can safeguard sensitive information and infrastructure.
Cybersecurity skills are a blend of technical expertise in coding, software development, and strategic thinking, alongside a proactive mindset to anticipate and neutralize threats. Mastering cybersecurity can open doors to high-impact roles and help position candidates as indispensable assets in an increasingly digital world.
9 Fast Growing Industries
Now, let’s consider how those skills factor into nine industries that are expected to see the most growth in 2026.
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Pharmaceuticals & biotech, two subsections of the life sciences industry, continue to exhibit industry growth, fueled by breakthroughs in AI-driven R&D, precision medicine, and advanced manufacturing. The global biopharmaceutical market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.87% from 2025 to 2030 to reach $740.84 billion by 2030.
Companies are racing to shorten drug discovery cycles and scale cell and gene therapy operations, creating urgent demand for talent across regulatory, clinical, and technical domains. the industry evolves, professionals with domain expertise and adaptability will find abundant opportunities to lead and shape the future of life sciences.
Energy and Utilities
As the world becomes more aware of things like carbon emissions and clean energy, it would seem like the energy sector isn’t poised to see the most growth in 2026. But amid growing environmental concerns, this industry is beginning to adopt more ESG policies and make other major shifts. Many businesses are attempting to take accountability and make a difference by implementing sustainability initiatives.
To implement this change, they need to build new, forward-looking teams that can bring energy and utilities into a more ecological future. The in-demand skills these teams will need include strategic thinking, project management, research and analysis, and communication. This industry is also becoming more tech-based, so they’re also looking for coding and programming languages as well as software development.
Financial Services
The financial services industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by the adoption of generative AI, automation, and data-centric innovation. Institutions are investing heavily in technologies that enhance fraud detection, risk management, and customer personalization, while also reinventing traditional business models to unlock new revenue streams.
Smarter regulation and improved data infrastructure are becoming essential to support this growth. The demand for skilled professionals in banking, insurance, and fintech is surging—for jobseekers, this means abundant opportunities in a sector that values adaptability, tech fluency, and customer-first thinking.
Big Data
The big data market is projected to grow from $82.23 billion in 2025 to $402.70 billion by 2032, showing a CAGR of 25.5% during the forecast period. It’s a great space to move into, and experts within this field are highly sought after by online retailers, banks and financial institutions, healthcare, transportation, and more.
Success in big data requires skills such as coding and programming languages, strategic thinking, data science, research and analysis, and project management.
Online Retail
Like data analysis, online retail is set to see steady growth in 2026 and beyond. This industry has been growing for several years and shows no signs of slowing down. Not only dominated by industry giants, small and mid-size businesses are relying more on online sales than they ever have, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Online retail requires skills that help lead people and projects, as well as technical knowledge. Workers who are skilled in project management, communication, graphic design, content management, social media marketing, data science, research and analysis, strategic thinking—or all of the above—are set up for success in online retail.
Cybersecurity
Amid rapid growth and mounting gaps in technical skills, cybersecurity is a fast-growing industry with major hiring needs. It’s projected that more than 530,000 workers are needed to cover total openings within this field.
Technical skills are the most in-demand within this space, and cybersecurity professionals need working knowledge of coding or programming languages, web and software development, and strategic thinking.
AI and machine learning
In addition to research and cloud-based data storage, platforms like ChatGPT, GoogleAI, and DALL-E have shown that AI and machine learning innovation is just getting started. In fact, the AI market—which includes machine learning—is projected to grow from $294.16 billion in 2025 to $1,771.62 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 29.20% during the forecast period.
Breaking into this evolving field requires technical skills like programming and coding, web and software development, and graphic design. But soft skills like communication or project management can also be in-demand for AI opportunities.
Healthcare
The healthcare industry is growing rapidly as the population ages and chronic diseases show no signs of disappearing. Technology and innovation are central to the healthcare system. Healthcare professionals continually seek better ways to understand, engage, monitor, and treat patients.
While you may think of healthcare as treating patients, there are many other vital roles related to technology and data. The industry needs skilled software developers, data scientists, coders, and strategic thinkers to stay on top of trends and meet the population’s needs.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
Advances in technology are spurring rapid growth in the VR and AR industries. The rollout of 5G networks has increased the viability of these technologies by making them more reliable and accessible. From architects who want clients to experience their designs to gamers building virtual worlds, there are many exciting applications for VR and AR.
VR and AR are both highly technical and relatively new. The industry needs coding, software development, research and analytics, and project management. However, there is also a need to reach the public and communicate the opportunities, calling for content creators and managers, social media marketers, and people with strong communication, writing, and strategic thinking skills.
Skills for a Better Future
The in-demand skills on this list are a great way to stand out in 2026 and break into fast growing industries. Whether technical or durable, the right skills can open doors to new opportunities and bring you closer to your dream career.
by Alexandra Woodford 
