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As AI rapidly reshapes Australia’s job market, educators are under increasing pressure to prepare students for careers that didn’t exist just a decade ago.
LinkedIn’s newly released 2025 Skills on the Rise report underscores AI literacy as Australia’s most sought-after skill, highlighting a dramatic surge in demand that has reshaped hiring trends nationwide.
With a 240% jump in AI-related hires nationwide since 2016 and soft skills such as communication, strategic thinking, and adaptability becoming indispensable, schools face a pivotal challenge: equipping students with both the technical know-how and human-centric skills necessary to thrive in an AI-driven workforce.
The hiring of AI talent relative to all hiring has also increased by 31% year-on-year in Australia.
LinkedIn’s Skills on the Rise list uses data from across Australia’s 16 million LinkedIn members and measures the frequency of skill additions by members, their presence in recently recruited profiles, and the increase in demand for these skills in company job offers.
The 15 Fastest Growing Skills in Australia in 2025:
- AI Literacy
- Communication
- Strategic Thinking
- Large Language Models Proficiency
- Adaptability
- Customer Service Management
- Market Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance
- Conflict Resolution
- Budget Management
- Statistical Data Analysis
- Lead Generation
- Point of Sale Systems
- Leadership
- Problem Solving
The demand for AI literacy comes as LinkedIn data shows that the skills needed for jobs in Australia are projected to change by 66% by 2030 compared to 2016.
Soft skills remain ‘indispensable’
Despite the massive demand for digital technology skills, LinkedIn’s research shows that soft skills remain critical in the jobs market.
Key abilities such as communication, strategic thinking, and adaptability are now among Australia’s top five Skills on the Rise, underscoring the necessity of these distinctly human qualities in today’s technology-driven employment landscape.
Business leaders are placing unprecedented value on interpersonal skills, prioritising capabilities that AI can’t readily replicate. Roles identified on LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise list—including English Teacher, Fundraising Manager, Employee Relations Specialist, and front-line hospitality positions—illustrate a marked increase in demand for problem-solving, empathy, and agility, essential attributes for success in the AI era.
“LinkedIn data shows that nearly 3 in 5 [59%] Australians are looking for a new job in 2025, but 41% of Australians don’t know how to match their skills to roles,” Cayla Dengate, LinkedIn Career Expert said.
“With a tightening job market and intensifying competition, knowing which skills are in-demand can help job seekers stand out to hiring managers.”
Dengate pointed out that Australia has always been an early adopter of technology, and AI is no exception.
“With 87% of Australian professionals saying they are using AI tools at work. AI is transforming every job, team, and business,” she said. “Your job is changing, even if you’re not changing jobs, and 10% of workers hired today have job titles that didn’t exist in 2000, such as AI Engineer and Data Scientist.”
However, Dengate added that AI is also elevating the value of human-centric abilities, with soft skills showing up strongly in LinkedIn’s Skills on the Rise list.
“Soft skills are vital in enabling professionals to build strong relationships, foster collaboration and drive innovation, which makes them indispensable in today’s job market.”