Jaipur, March 2025.

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, has launched the Skills on the Rise 2025 list, spotlighting 15 skills that professionals should invest in to stay ahead at work. The top 5 fastest growing skills that companies in India are hiring for include creativity and innovation (#1), code review (#2), problem solving (#3), pre-screening (#4), and strategic thinking (#5).

With 64% of the skills used in most jobs projected to change by 2030 in India, LinkedIn research shows that 25% of professionals worry about not having the skills needed for the future. Nearly 4 in 10 (46%) professionals in Jaipur find it challenging to determine if they’re a good match for a job. With 31% not knowing which of their skills are fit for a job’s requirements, understanding which skills are in demand is more critical than ever. On the other hand, 69% of recruiters in India report a skills mismatch between the skills professionals have and the skills companies need.

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.”

Soft skills take centre stage

As AI automates tasks, the skills that set professionals apart are becoming deeply human. Creativity and innovation (#1), problem solving (#3) and strategic thinking (#5) are seeing increased demand, not just in traditionally creative fields like arts & design and marketing, but also in business development and education. Similarly, communication is now essential beyond people-centric roles like sales and HR, extending into IT, consulting, and finance.

AI literacy is a baseline expectation across job functions

The ability to work with AI is a mainstay in today’s work landscape. With 95% of C-Suite leaders in India prioritising AI skills over traditional experience, Large Language Models (LLM) (#8), AI literacy (#9), and prompt engineering (#13) skills are becoming key differentiators for job applicants. While these skills have traditionally been associated with IT, their growing relevance in education and marketing highlights the expanding role of AI and tech fluency across job functions.

Customer engagement skills are in demand across India Inc.

As companies sharpen their focus on business growth, strong customer relationships remain a top priority. Customer engagement (#11) is a critical skill—with an increasing emphasis on customer satisfaction—across sales, business development, and marketing functions. Professionals who can help businesses build enduring customer relations and loyalty will have an advantage.

Majority professionals in Jaipur are looking for new jobs in 2025

As per new research from LinkedIn, 85% of professionals in Jaipur plan to look for a new job this year. However, 44% professionals in the city say they are applying for more jobs than ever, but are hearing back less. To guide these professionals towards the right opportunities, LinkedIn has unveiled its annual Jobs on the Rise list, revealing insights on the fastest-growing jobs over the past three years.