As hiring trends shift yet again, LinkedIn’s annual Skills on the Rise list for 2026 has put the spotlight on something many professionals have been sensing for a while now, i.e. job titles matter less, skills matter more. According to insights shared by LinkedIn and its Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Roth, companies are increasingly focused on what a person can actually do, rather than what their last designation was.
Hiring Is Moving Beyond Job Titles
Speaking about the new report on TODAY, Daniel Roth explained that LinkedIn analysed growth patterns across two main areas. With over a billion profiles on the platform, the company tracked the skills users are adding to their profiles and also examined the skills of those who successfully landed jobs in the past year. One dataset reflects what employees are learning. The other shows what employers are actively hiring for.
He maintained that skills are how people get hired today. Companies, whether small startups or large corporations, are hiring based on skill sets. What you are capable of doing is becoming more important than your previous title. Skills travel with you, he pointed out, especially during times of rapid change. When industries shift quickly, having adaptable abilities allows professionals to move across roles and even sectors.
AI Skills Dominate, But Not Alone
Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence features heavily on the list. Roth said there are two broad buckets here. One covers technical capabilities that help companies build or implement AI systems. Prompt engineering is one of the more recognisable skills, and data annotation is another area worth watching. Beyond that, the work becomes highly technical.
However, there is also a strategic layer. Companies want people who understand how to use AI tools effectively within their organisation to improve productivity. He described the current phase of AI adoption as early days, adding that many of these skills are accessible and do not always require deep STEM or advanced mathematics backgrounds. Because it is still early, he suggested that now is a good time to invest in learning them.
Human Skills Still Matter
Even as AI gains ground, employers are not turning away from people-oriented skills. In fact, they often go hand in hand. Businesses are changing faster than before, and that kind of change needs people who can adapt and work well in teams.
Leadership and people management remain important. Roth noted two emerging focus areas: mentorship and talent development. Helping others realise what they are capable of is becoming valuable inside organisations.
Communication is another big one. LinkedIn has seen a doubling in job postings over the last year that ask for storytelling skills. Public speaking, writing clear emails, and drafting cross-functional memos are all being recognised as important. These are basic workplace skills, but they are now being highlighted more directly in job descriptions.
How Professionals Can Identify and Build Skills
Roth also stressed that skills are not fixed for life. People are not locked into what they currently know. New skills can always be developed. For those unsure about their strengths, he suggested asking colleagues, friends or even volunteer groups what they are good at. Often, others will repeat the same strengths, which can help identify core capabilities.
There are more free courses available than ever, he noted, but practice remains key. Volunteering, joining community groups, taking on stretch assignments at work — all of these can help refine both technical and human skills.
Finally, he advised against listing skills like a grocery list on a resume. Instead, professionals should tell stories around their skills — when they used them, what impact they created, whether at work, college, or in volunteer roles. Being able to connect those stories in interviews makes a stronger impression.