LinkedIn Skills on the Rise 2025: The 15 fastest-growing skills in Australia

Change is a constant in today’s work landscape, as technological transformations upend ‘business as usual’ and force companies and professionals alike to adapt. Artificial intelligence is at the forefront of this shift, and its impact is significant: LinkedIn data reveals that by 2030, 70% of the skills used in most jobs will change. 

For organisations, navigating this transformation means embracing skills-based hiring practices to build a workforce equipped for the future — which could expand global talent pools by 6.1x globally.

For professionals, it’s about staying ahead of the curve, whether that’s learning new, in-demand skills or deepening existing areas of expertise. And many are already taking action: a quarter of professionals say they plan to focus on learning new skills this year.   

That’s where LinkedIn’s Skills on the Rise list comes in — our inaugural ranking of the fastest-growing skills that professionals should be investing in to get ahead in today's world of work. From AI Literacy (No. 1) to Conflict Resolution (No. 9), these are the emerging areas that professionals are prioritising and that companies are increasingly hiring for right now. You can read more about our methodology at the bottom of this article. 

Whether you’re actively on the job hunt or looking to future-proof your career, this list highlights the emerging areas of opportunity to get ahead. Ready to get started? Dive into related LinkedIn Learning courses under each skill to start building your expertise (free for all members until April 18). 

You can also check out the Skills on the Rise in 15 sectors such as business development and healthcare services at the bottom of this article. 

Check out the 15 fastest-growing skills in Australia — and join the conversation using #SkillsOnTheRise. 

1. AI Literacy

Why it’s on the rise: As AI rapidly transforms industries, companies are increasingly looking for professionals with the ability to understand and utilise tools harnessing that technology for business purposes. | Most common job titles: Founder, Software Engineer, Project Manager | Most common industries: Technology, Information and Internet, IT Services and Consulting, Higher Education

💡 Learn about AI systems and how they can benefit your work (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

2. Communication

Why it’s on the rise: Clear and effective communication is increasingly vital in remote and hybrid work environments, as well as in managing diverse, global teams. | Most common job titles: Project Manager, Owner, Business Analyst | Most common industries: Higher Education, IT Services and Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet

💡 Brush up on essential skills for communication (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

3. Strategic Thinking

Why it’s on the rise: In a rapidly changing business landscape, the ability to plan long-term and anticipate future trends is essential for professionals at all levels of seniority. | Most common job titles: Founder, Managing Director, Project Manager | Most common industries: Business Consulting and Services, Technology, Information and Internet, Higher Education

💡 Learn how to think strategically (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

4. Large Language Models (LLM) Proficiency

Why it’s on the rise: As generative AI takes hold in the workplace, there’s an increased demand for professionals who can build generative AI systems such as LLMs, and demand for professionals who can work with these systems. | Most common job titles: Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Founder | Most common industries: Technology, Information and Internet, Higher Education, IT Services and Consulting

💡 Use AI to boost productivity for any role (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

5. Adaptability

Why it’s on the rise: With the rapid pace of change in the workplace — from the ongoing return-to-office push to technological advancements — continuous learning and resilience are key to staying ahead of the curve. | Most common job titles: Teacher, Support Associate, Retail Assistant | Most common industries: Higher Education, Food and Beverage Services, Health and Human Services

💡 Discover how to thrive in uncertainty and embrace change (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

6. Customer Service Management

Why it’s on the rise: With growing competition and higher customer expectations, effective customer service management is crucial for business success and customer retention. | Most common job titles: Owner, Store Manager, Account Manager | Most common industries: Hospitality, Business Consulting and Services, Technology, Information and Internet

💡 Motivate your team with customer service foundations (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

7. Market Analysis

Why it’s on the rise: In an increasingly data-driven world, the ability to analyse market trends and consumer behaviour is essential for informed decision-making. | Most common job titles: Founder, Product Manager, Business Development Manager | Most common industries: Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services, Advertising Services

💡 Make competitive intelligence part of your marketing strategy (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

8. Regulatory Compliance

Why it’s on the rise: As regulations become more complex and stringent, ensuring compliance is critical to avoid legal issues and maintain business integrity. | Most common job titles: Founder, Managing Director, Project Manager | Most common industries: Credit Intermediation, Business Consulting and Services, Higher Education

💡 Learn how to interpret laws, regulations and industry standards (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

9. Conflict Resolution

Why it’s on the rise: With diverse workplaces and remote teams, the ability to manage and resolve conflicts effectively is crucial for maintaining productivity and a positive work environment. | Most common job titles: Project Manager, Teacher, Founder | Most common industries: Higher Education, Business Consulting and Services, Health and Human Services

💡 Hear from leaders about how to collaborate through conflict (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

10. Budget Management

Why it’s on the rise: In times of economic uncertainty, skillful budget management is essential for optimising resources and ensuring financial stability. | Most common job titles: Project Manager, Marketing Manager, Founder | Most common industries: Higher Education, Business Consulting and Services, Advertising

💡 Explore accounting foundations for budgeting (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

11. Statistical Data Analysis

Why it’s on the rise: As businesses rely more on data-driven decisions, the ability to interpret and analyse statistical data is becoming increasingly important across various roles. | Most common job titles: Data Analyst, Research Assistant, Business Analyst | Most common industries: Higher Education, IT Services and Consulting, Technology, Information and Internet

💡 Brush up on Excel essentials (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

12. Lead Generation

Why it’s on the rise: In a competitive market, identifying and nurturing potential customers is crucial for business growth and sustainability. | Most common job titles: Business Development Manager, Founder, Marketing Manager | Most common industries: Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services, Advertising

💡 Improve your lead generation capability (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

13. Point of Sale (POS) Systems

Why it’s on the rise: As retail and hospitality industries evolve, proficiency in modern POS systems is essential for efficient operations and improved customer experiences. | Most common job titles: Retail Assistant, Salesperson, Food and Beverage Assistant | Most common industries: Food and Beverage Services, Higher Education, Retail Apparel and Fashion

💡 Get across Shopify learning essentials (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

14. Leadership

Why it’s on the rise: Effective leadership skills are crucial for guiding teams through change, fostering innovation, and maintaining employee engagement in evolving work environments. | Most common job titles: Project Manager, Founder, Product Manager | Most common industries: Technology, Information and Internet, IT Services and Consulting, Business Consulting and Services

💡 Manage a cross-functional team with these leadership tips (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

15. Problem Solving

Why it’s on the rise: With increasing complexity in business operations and technology, strong problem-solving skills are essential for addressing challenges and driving innovation. | Most common job titles: Founder, Teacher, Graphic Designer | Most common industries: Higher Education, Technology, Information and Internet, Advertising

💡 Brush up on problem-solving skills (free LinkedIn Learning course until April 18)

*LinkedIn data shows that both technical and nontechnical members are adding "Artificial Intelligence" as a skill. For the purposes of this list, we have renamed this skill as "AI Literacy," to reflect that members adding “Artificial Intelligence” as a skill are increasingly leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, while not necessarily learning AI technical skills. Other AI technical skills (i.e. LLMs) appear further down on the list.

Explore the Skills on the Rise across 10 job functions below.

You can also check out the Skills on the Rise in the U.S., Brazil, India, France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

List Methodology

LinkedIn measures the growth of skills based on three pillars: skill acquisition, hiring success and emerging demand. Skill acquisition counts the rate at which members are adding new skills to their profile. Hiring success is measured by the share of a skill possessed by members who have been hired in the past year. Emerging demand measures the increased presence of a given skill in paid job postings. Growth rates for all metrics are measured by comparing LinkedIn data from January 1 to December 31, 2024 to the same period in the previous year (January 1 to December 31, 2023). 

Data is normalised across all skills. Language skills, basic digital literacy skills and overly broad skills are excluded.

Skill Insights 

Additional data points for each of the skills are based on LinkedIn profiles of members possessing the skill in the country. Most common industries measure the industries most prevalent among members who held that skill on LinkedIn from January 1 to December 31, 2024. Most common job titles represent the occupations that are most common among members holding that skill from January 1 to December 31, 2024. 

Methodology and insights by: LinkedIn’s Economic Graph team and Scaled Insights team

Editor: Cayla Dengate