In-demand skills
What are the most in-demand job skills?
Research from the Harvard Business Review and labor market data firm, Emsi Burning Glass, revealed that employers removed degree requirements for 46% of their mid-level positions and 31% of high-skill positions between 2017 and 2019. And they haven’t stopped there.
We know that skills-based hiring is the future of recruiting. So what does that mean for you?
job seekers: It’s time to get specialized. Concentrate on a specific niche within your industry, and you’ll earn more as a subject matter expert. Maybe you’ll consider a career change entirely. You could even start a side hustle with a few of these skills under your belt.
recruiters: Keep an eye out for people with any skills on this list, as they’re likely to be in short supply and high demand. Connect with one, and they’re sure to go fast -- and help you earn a very lucrative commission.
Tech skills and soft skills rank highest on the list of in-demand job skills this year. So let’s dive into both categories to cover your bases. tech skills
With tech dominating nearly every aspect of our lives, you’d be hard-pressed to find an industry that doesn’t need skilled IT professionals.
The digital skills gap is widening, and talent scarcity is at an all-time high. So it’s no surprise that the most in-demand tech skills are also some of the most profitable skills to learn, including:
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
Computer scientist and Coursera co-founder Andrew Ng says, “AI is the new electricity.”
AI and ML algorithms enable tech to automatically learn and adapt to user experiences. It can perform complex tasks to make our lives easier and help businesses run smoother.
That’s why predictions place the global AI market at $191 billion by 2025. The Wall Street Journal even reports that job postings for AI experts nearly doubled between 2020 and 2021.
From self-driving cars and surgical robots to facial recognition software, the possibilities for AI and ML are limitless across industries.
What kind of background do you need? It’s a good idea to have a solid grasp of programming, engineering, statistics, data science, and software design.
jobs and career paths for this skill:
Artificial intelligence engineer (AI)
Machine learning developer (ML)
Data engineer
Software engineer
Data scientist
Scrum Master
What's the average salary you ask? The national average salary for a Scrum Master AI or ML engineer or developer is well over $100K+ per year.
Data science (aka “Big Data”)
According to British mathematician Clive Humby, “Data is the new oil.”
Big Data refers to the science of collecting, processing, interpreting, and evaluating vast amounts of data. Organizations use this intel to make better decisions and save time and money.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects up to 180,000 data science jobs by 2030 .
What kind of background do you need? Data scientists typically have experience with math, statistics, statistical modeling, time series analysis, programming, and problem-solving. They tend to have very high analytical skills.
jobs and career paths for this skill:
data architect
data engineer
data analyst
data scientist
database manager / administrator
What's the average salary? The national average salary for a data scientist ranges between $100,000 and $195,000 per year.
Blockchain
Statistics show that companies will spend $19 billion on blockchain solutions worldwide by 2024.
Spearheaded by the rapid adoption of creating and managing cryptocurrencies, blockchain is a decentralized system to securely store data. Thanks to its high data privacy levels, blockchain is being leveraged in various industries outside of crypto, including healthcare, government, and finance.
What kind of background do you need? You should have a deep understanding of data structures, cryptography, smart contracts, and blockchain (naturally).
jobs and career paths for this skill:
blockchain developer
blockchain quality engineer
blockchain solution architect
smart contracts engineer
What's the average salary? About $100,000 per year depending on location & company.
Cloud computing skills
Cloud computing allows organizations to utilize remote servers and data centers rather than installing and maintaining their own physical IT architecture. This saves companies a ton of money, so they’re willing to pay top dollar for cloud computing experts.
In fact, the Linux Foundation reports that cloud-native skills are more in demand than any other tech discipline, with 46% of hiring managers seeking candidates with these skills.
What kind of background do you need? Being cloud-native includes understanding web services and APIs, IT and data security, data migration, and how to plan, configure, manage, and troubleshoot cloud infrastructure.
jobs and career paths for this skill:
cloud engineer
cloud architect
cloud infrastructure engineer
cloud security engineer
cloud administrator
What's the average salary? Cloud engineers average $115,000 annually.
Scrum Master
The average salary for a Scrum Master in US is $103,428. The average additional cash compensation for a Scrum Master in US is $9,493. The average total compensation for a Scrum Master in US is $112,921. Scrum Master salaries are based on responses gathered by Built In from anonymous Scrum Master employees in US.
Scrum is a framework for developing and sustaining complex products. This Guide contains the definition of Scrum. This definition consists of Scrum’s roles, events, artifacts, and the rules that bind them together. Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland developed Scrum; the Scrum Guide is written and provided by them. Together, they stand behind the Scrum Guide.
Cybersecurity
The average cost of a cyberattack varies from $25,000 for an SMB to over $2 million for large corporations. Those expenses and the potential for leaking valuable client data are why preventing cybercrime is a top priority for businesses.
What kind of background do you need? Become well-versed in programming, software and app development, information systems, information technology, networking, and digital forensics.
jobs and career paths for this skill:
cybersecurity engineer
cloud security engineer
information security analyst
information security manager
What's the average salary? Cybersecurity professionals earn around $110,000 in the U.S., based on their experience and position.
User interface / user experience design (UI/UX)
With more people glued to their screens than ever, the demand for gurus to create intuitive user interfaces that deliver a satisfying user experience will only continue to grow.
This in-demand tech skill combines the know-how of web and app development with modern digital design. UI/UX designers create easy-to-navigate apps, websites, and smart products with stunning interfaces to keep users happy.
What kind of background do you need? A background in programming and design is a must. Experience with problem-solving, market/user research, product prototyping, and usability testing are also preferred.
jobs and career paths for this skill:
ui/ux designer
ux strategist
ux researcher
information architect
What's the average salary? Between $90,000 and $120,000. (*)
Web development (especially low-code programming)
There’s a website for everything now. And let’s be honest, if a company doesn’t have a professional website, it raises more than a few eyebrows. That’s why the need for web developers will never go away.
But here’s a new trend: research predicts that 65% of all software development will fall under the low-code programming umbrella by 2024.
Low-code programming requires minimal programming knowledge, allowing people with a basic tech mindset to develop simple business applications and professional sites. Now, low-code programming is one of the most profitable skills to learn in 2022.
What kind of background do you need? Familiarize yourself with the most in-demand programming languages, such as Python, Java, C++, C, and C#. You might also want to take a course in design and search engine optimization (SEO) too.
jobs and career paths for this skill:
front-end developer
back-end developer
full-stack developer
low-code web designer
database management
What's the average salary? Programmers average between $85,000 and $140,000 per year.
Soft skills are traits and abilities that enable people to communicate, collaborate, and work effectively and harmoniously with others.
Analysts estimate that almost 67% of jobs will be based on soft skills by 2030. And that’s because 30% of work is expected to be automated by then. Employees will get to use that time to deliver what automation can’t: the human touch.
Soft skills like critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and time management are always on an organization’s candidate wishlist. But these are the most in-demand soft skills in 2022:
Change leadership
Change leadership is one of the hottest “power skills” in 2022. Managing rapid, sweeping changes (think: the almost overnight transition to remote work during the pandemic) takes a myriad of skills to get right.
People with this ability understand the dynamics of change and which frameworks and tools make it easiest to implement. They create a clear roadmap for businesses to make successful changes, along with the structure and processes necessary to follow through on this goal across departments.
Remote collaboration and communication
The COVID-19 pandemic ignited one of the biggest workforce trends: the shift to remote work.
Being productive and engaged as a remote employee takes experience with remote collaboration and communication, which can be challenging when working with teams across different time zones and continents.
Remote tools and workflows make collaboration and communication easier. And employers are looking for candidates with experience using:
file-sharing platforms (like Google Drive)
project management tools (like Trello or Basecamp)
messaging apps (like Slack and Teams)
Show you know your way around tools like those, and organizations won’t have to spend as much time getting you up to speed (which is super attractive to hiring teams).
Emotional intelligence
Some experts say that high emotional intelligence is a better predictor of career success than a high IQ.
Emotional intelligence helps people control their feelings so they don’t cloud their best judgment. It also allows employees to become better coworkers and leaders allowing them to be more aware and empathetic to those around them.
The five components that encompass emotional intelligence include:
self-awareness
self-regulation
motivation
empathy
social skills (+ community building)
Level up those five skills to boost your EI score and add this strength to your resume. Recruiters with candidates high in EI should definitely use it as a selling point (and take a few notes themselves )
Stress management and resilience
With so many companies focusing on a healthy work-life balance, it’s critical to find employees skilled in stress management. People with this ability use strategies to overcome obstacles, cope with curveballs, and prevail in the face of uncertainty.
The more adept you are at managing stress, the less intense stressful situations become in the future (aka resiliency). Your cool, calm, and collected nature will also ease tension in the workplace for the good of everyone around. Who wouldn’t want an employee with those superpowers?