Recent data reveals a significant lack of confidence among HR professionals in the UK concerning their company’s future skills requirements, particularly roles emerging in the next decade. According to LinkedIn’s latest insights, nearly half of HR professionals (45%) are uncertain about the necessary skills their companies will need by 2025 and beyond.
Emerging Roles Identified by LinkedIn
LinkedIn’s annual ‘Jobs on the Rise’ report has pinpointed several top emerging roles, with AI engineers, AI researchers, and environmental officers leading the list. The professional networking platform’s analysis involved examining millions of job starts by its members from 2022 through the end of 2024, focusing on the growth rate of specific job titles. In addition to AI and environmental roles, other positions with notable growth include data governance managers, energy managers, and pilots. This highlights the dynamic nature of the job market and the rise of new professions.
LinkedIn estimates that approximately 55% of today’s fastest-growing jobs did not exist 25 years ago, underscoring the rapidly evolving nature of work. The need for innovative and adaptive skill sets is more apparent than ever, reflecting significant shifts in industry demands.
Skills Gaps in the Job Market
The report reveals that AI and green skills are becoming increasingly crucial; however, 20% of workers express concerns about their future skillsets. The global demand for green talent is outpacing supply, growing twice as fast as the number of available candidates in 2023 and 2024. The difficulty in sourcing technical and sustainability skills is evident, with 43% and 19% of organizations, respectively, struggling to recruit for these competencies.
Despite ongoing pressures to return to office settings, the UK has one of the largest shares of remote job applications (18%) and hybrid job postings (40%). This trend indicates a persistent interest in flexible work arrangements, which presents both challenges and opportunities for HR professionals who must adapt their strategies accordingly.
Insights from LinkedIn’s Janine Chamberlin
Recent reports have highlighted a considerable lack of confidence among HR professionals in the UK about predicting their company’s future skills needs, especially for roles that are expected to emerge in the next decade. According to recent findings from LinkedIn, close to half of UK HR professionals (45%) are unsure about the specific skills their companies will require by 2025 and beyond. This uncertainty poses a significant challenge as businesses try to prepare for the future workforce needs in a rapidly changing job market.
The evolving nature of work, driven by technological advancements and globalization, means that companies must be agile and forward-thinking. HR professionals are tasked with the critical responsibility of identifying and nurturing talent that will fulfill these future roles, but the current lack of clarity makes strategic planning more complex. Companies may need to invest in ongoing training and development programs, fostering a culture of continuous learning to stay ahead. Without a clear understanding of emerging skill requirements, businesses risk falling behind in a competitive market, unable to adapt to new opportunities and challenges.
