Eight Skills Most Sought by Companies in 2026; HR Departments No Longer Prioritise Qualifications
Jakarta – The world of work has undergone remarkably swift changes over the past decade. Digitalisation, automation, and the application of artificial intelligence have transformed how companies recruit and develop talent.
Whereas educational qualifications and job titles were once primary considerations, companies are now increasingly focused on the genuine skills possessed by candidates.
A recent report from LinkedIn reinforces this trend. In the Skills on the Rise 2026 list released on 24 February 2026, LinkedIn revealed the skill categories with the fastest growth rates in the United States.
Andrew Seaman, Senior Editor for Jobs and Career Development at LinkedIn News, stated that changes in skill requirements are heavily influenced by artificial intelligence developments. “We have seen the skills required to perform work develop dramatically over the past 10 years, with even more change forthcoming, much of it driven by AI,” he said, according to CNBC on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
“Companies are now increasingly unlikely to focus on job titles or educational credentials, and are instead concentrating on what someone can genuinely do,” he added.
The report’s methodology is based on analysing annual growth in skill acquisition and recruitment success from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025, compared with the period 1 December 2023 to 30 November 2024.
LinkedIn measures the increase in the number of members adding specific skills to their profiles and the rise in the number of members with those skills who successfully secured employment. “Think of your skills as currency in your career—skills help determine who gets hired, who gets promoted, and who is selected for new projects,” he said.
Eight Skill Categories with Fastest Growth in 2026
The following are the main categories in LinkedIn’s 2026 list along with examples of skills within them:
AI engineering and implementation, including data annotation and prompt engineering.
Operational efficiency, including logistics management and process optimisation.
AI-driven business strategy, including data governance and responsible AI.
Executive and stakeholder communication, including public speaking and relationship development.
Financial operations and reporting, including cash flow reporting and financial data analysis.
Leadership and human resource management, including cross-functional team management and talent development.