Across millions of job postings, employers are seeking a wide range of skills in 2025, including specific technical skills around generative AI and soft skills that help employees adapt to change, according to a Jan. 6 report from Aura Intelligence, a workforce analytics platform.
Soft skills, in particular, remain in high demand, with communication skills being the top skill requested across nearly 2 million job postings in December 2024.
Still, a balance of hard skills and soft skills on applicant resumes will most likely appeal to hiring managers and applicant tracking systems this year, the report found.
“In 2025, professional profiles that tell a compelling story — not just list skills — will stand out in a competitive job market,” Evan Sohn, CEO of Aura Intelligence, said in a statement. “Our data not only identifies the skills employers demand but also illustrates their role in driving workforce transformation.”
When it comes to technical skills, AI-related expertise has become increasingly popular in job ads, particularly around tools such as Kubernetes and Apache Kafka as businesses integrate AI, the report found.
Employers are also looking for specific skills in data visualization tools, such as Power BI and Tableau, and cloud and development frameworks such as Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure and Express.js.
Beyond communication, other in-demand soft skills included leadership, problem-solving and adaptability.
Most workers fear their job skills will become obsolete within the decade, according to a report from the Global Labor Market Conference. Employers can nurture the necessary skills to compete in the evolving labor market by providing training opportunities, the report found.
In particular, HR pros play a key role in managing skill gaps, including tech skills and soft skills, various reports have indicated. In 2025, that may mean a greater focus on upskilling and training opportunities, but without proper investment, L&D may fall to the wayside.
Although both employers and employees see the need for skills development, continuous upskilling isn’t the norm for most workers, according to a D2L report. L&D uptake often remains limited due to a lack of time, money and motivation, the company found.
