LinkedIn Skills on the Rise 2026: The fastest-growing skills in the U.S.

The way we work, hire and advance is being redefined in real time. Fueled by AI, traditional career paths are giving way to “new-collar” roles that prioritize hybrid, adaptable skills over linear resumes or traditional degrees. Employers are following suit, increasingly evaluating candidates based on their capabilities — not just where they’ve worked or studied. 

These shifts bring fresh opportunity, but also uncertainty. One in five professionals globally says that not having the right skills is making the job search more challenging, according to recent LinkedIn research. That’s where LinkedIn’s annual list of Skills on the Rise comes in, surfacing the fastest-growing skills that professionals should be investing in to get ahead in today’s world of work.

From technical AI skills like prompt engineering and data annotation to people-oriented communication skills like public speaking and stakeholder management, this list highlights the areas that professionals are increasingly prioritizing and employers are actively hiring for. 

And these insights are just the beginning. Looking to upskill in an emerging area? Explore a related LinkedIn Learning course, free for all members until March 23. Ready to highlight your expertise on your profile? Verify your skills to showcase proficiency in the tools you use.  

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

You can read our full methodology at the bottom of this article. This list is based on LinkedIn data and was produced by LinkedIn data scientist Yao Huang in partnership with editors on the LinkedIn News team ( Juliette (Faraut) Bell , Sarah McGrath , Emily Bruck and Juliette Schiff ). Editors compiled the list by aggregating individual fast-growing skills into broader categories based on shared functions, technical domains or use cases.

You can also see the Skills on the Rise in 12 job functions, from engineering to HR, at the bottom of this article. 

Fast-growing skills in this area: Data Annotation, FastAPI, Google Gemini, LangChain, Model Training & Fine Tuning, OpenAI API, Prompt Engineering, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Vector Databases, XGBoost | Why they're on the rise: As AI adoption accelerates, so does the need for professionals with the technical expertise required to build, integrate and operationalize AI models and applications. That expertise includes connecting AI systems to company data, shaping model outputs through prompting and tuning and embedding AI into real-world products using APIs and infrastructure.

💡 Learn the tools and resources needed to navigate the AI ecosystem (free LinkedIn Learning course until March 23)

Fast-growing skills in this area: Logistics Management, Process Optimization, Program Improvement, Real-time Monitoring, Workflow Automation | Why they're on the rise: Maximizing resources to drive overall productivity, profits and quality is a key differentiator as organizations face pressure to do more with less. As a result, professionals who can automate manual workflows and leverage tools to optimize processes are increasingly in-demand. 

💡 Learn how to unlock efficiencies by streamlining processes (free until March 23)

Fast-growing skills in this area: AI for Business, AI for Design, Data Governance, Responsible AI, Tech-Enabled Business Transformation | Why they're on the rise: With the shift of AI from experimentation to application, organizations need leaders who can define where and how AI adds value. That means assessing initiatives to ensure they focus on the highest-priority business areas, meet ethical and regulatory standards and deliver measurable impact across products, services and operations. 

💡 Learn to evaluate how AI initiatives align with your strategy and culture (free until March 23)

Fast-growing skills in this area: Client Engagement, Cross-Functional Coordination, Leadership Communication, Project Stakeholder Management, Public Speaking, Relationship Development, Shareholder Communications | Why they're on the rise: Clear, effective communication with key decision-makers sets professionals apart in today’s fast-paced, interconnected work environment — allowing them to build trust and influence, navigate complex priorities and drive alignment across teams and functions. 

💡 Learn how to manage stakeholders and communicate with influence (free until March 23)

Fast-growing skills in this area: Capital & Expense Budget Management, Cash Reporting, Financial Data Analysis, Inventory & Pricing Controls, Report Reconciliation, U.S. GAAP Reporting | Why they're on the rise: Organizations are navigating economic volatility and increased scrutiny from regulators and investors, driving demand for professionals who can report financial results accurately, analyze complex data and compile actionable insights that help teams make informed decisions.

💡 Learn the fundamentals of corporate finance (free until March 23)

Fast-growing skills in this area: Cross-Functional Team Management, Leading Distributed Teams, Mentorship & Coaching, Performance Optimization, Talent Development, Team Management | Why they're on the rise: An organization is only as strong as its employees, making the ability to build, coach and retain high-performing teams essential. Professionals who develop talent and foster collaboration through today’s rapidly evolving work environment help their companies achieve stronger performance and sustainable growth.

💡 Learn collaboration techniques that drive organizational value (free until March 23)

Fast-growing skills in this area: Account Development, Go-to-Market Strategy, Marketing Plan Development, New Market Expansion, Sales Negotiation | Why they're on the rise: Amid heightened competition and an increased focus on sustainable growth, companies need professionals who can identify new business opportunities, adapt sales and marketing strategies to shifting customer needs and convert demand into measurable revenue.

💡 Learn how to design and execute strategies for scalable growth (free until March 23)

Fast-growing skills in this area: Federal & State Regulatory Compliance, Internal & External Investigations Management, Policy Compliance, Quality Assurance & Control, Safety Monitoring | Why they're on the rise: With regulations, technology and security rapidly changing, companies need professionals who can manage risk effectively — ensuring compliance with federal and state requirements, maintaining safety and quality standards and helping the organization operate reliably and responsibly.  

💡 Learn how to proactively identify and mitigate business risk (free until March 23)

Explore the Skills on the Rise across 12 job functions below.

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

List Methodology

LinkedIn measures the year-over-year growth of skills based on two pillars: skill acquisition and hiring success. Skill acquisition measures the growth of a given skill being added to member profiles. Hiring success measures the growth of a given skill possessed by members who have been hired in the past year. Growth rates for all metrics are measured by comparing LinkedIn data from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2025 to the same period in the previous year (December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024). To be ranked, skills must have had sufficient representation and activity volume over the analysis period.

Data is normalized across all skills. Language skills, basic digital literacy skills and overly broad skills are excluded. The list was compiled by aggregating individual skills into broader categories based on shared functions, technical domains or use cases.