What are the top skills employers are looking for in 2025?

The job market in 2025 presents a puzzling contradiction. Walk into any HR department and you’ll hear the same comments: “We can’t find candidates with the right skills”. Yet dig deeper into how organisations approach talent development, and a different story emerges – one where training and development ranks surprisingly low on corporate priority lists.

This disconnect isn’t just frustrating – it’s reshaping how people think about careers, hiring, and professional development. While salary expectations remain the top hiring challenge (and likely always will), the second-biggest hurdle reveals something more actionable: Lack of required skills among candidates. 

What's the great skills disconnect?

According to our 2025 UK Talent Trends Report, which includes insights from approx 1,000 hiring leaders, the second most commonly cited obstacle to hiring – after matching salary expectations – is the lack of required skills in applicants. This tells us that even with competitive compensation, if candidates lack the foundational skills needed, organisations will still face a major roadblock.

 Although this is a gap – it’s a fixable one, if employers are willing to invest where it counts.

It’s a paradox we hear time and time again – employers can’t find skills, but don’t invest in training either. Organisations consistently cite skills gaps as a significant hiring challenge, yet many hesitate to invest in building these capabilities internally. The data reveals telling contradictions: 

• Training and development ranks only 12th in employer retention priorities
• Offering training opportunities sits at 9th place among factors employers believe attract talent
• Want better training opportunities is cited as the 9th most common resignation reason for employees
• Meanwhile, job seekers rank training opportunities 8th among attractive factors when considering new roles 

The challenge for employers is clear: building expertise internally requires time that many organisations feel they don’t have. The solution lies in strategic balance – developing core capabilities internally while leveraging external expertise for specialised skills and rapid scaling needs. 

Find Talent with the Right Skills Today

Our comprehensive survey of employers reveals five critical skills dominating hiring priorities in 2025:

1. Communication skills (44%): In today’s world of hybrid work and cross-cultural teams, clear communication is everything. It’s not just about sending a message – it’s about making sure it lands. Whether you're sharing ideas over Zoom, working across time zones, or explaining something complex to a client or your manager, the ability to listen well and express yourself simply makes all the difference. It's the foundation of great teamwork and strong relationships.
2. Adaptability (43%): Change is the only constant, and organisations need individuals who can not only embrace but thrive amidst uncertainty. This means a willingness to learn new tools, pivot strategies, and navigate evolving market demands with agility.
3. Interpersonal skills (37%): Despite digital transformation, human connection remains irreplaceable. Strong interpersonal skills facilitate collaboration, conflict resolution, and relationship building – all essential for team cohesion and organisational success. These skills become even more critical in hybrid work environments where personal interactions are more intentional.
4. Technical expertise relevant to the industry (36%): While soft skills dominate the top spots, technical competency remains crucial. However, this is not just about knowing specific software or tools – it’s about understanding how to leverage technology strategically within your industry context and staying current with evolving technical standards.
5. Analytical thinking (33%): The ability to break down complex problems, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions has become essential across all industries. Analytical thinking enables professionals to navigate information overload and extract actionable insights from various data sources.

Looking forward: The skills evolution

The 2025 skills landscape reveals a workforce in transition. While technical expertise remains important, the dominance of soft skills – communication, adaptability, and interpersonal abilities – signals that human-centred capabilities are becoming increasingly valuable in an automated world.

For the job market to function effectively, both employers and job seekers must recognise their mutual responsibility in addressing the skills gap. Employers need to invest more heavily in development, while professionals must commit to continuous learning and skill building.

The organisations and individuals who successfully navigate this skills evolution will be those who understand that building capabilities is not a one-time event but an ongoing strategic advantage in an ever-changing economy.