Image: Marcin Wichary/FlickrThe UK’s most in-demand skill is ‘statistical analysis and data mining’, according to LinkedIn’s Top Skills of 2016 list revealed today.
The list, which includes both technical and soft skills that are the most sought after by employers in the UK, is as follows:
1) Statistical Analysis and Data Mining
2) Middleware and Integration Software
3) HR Benefits and Compensation
4) Web Architecture and Development Framework
5) Mobile Development
6) Perl/Python/Ruby
7) SEO/SEM Marketing
8) Network and Information Security
9) Data Presentation
10) Data Engineering and Data Warehousing
Looking at the type of skills employers seek most, technology skills remain in high demand for British employers, driven by the ever-growing need to understand data and boost innovation across a wide range of industries. Computer programming languages “Perl/Python/Ruby” and “Network and Information Security” are both new entrants to the list this year.
Echoing the recent news that 38% of small businesses lack basic digital skills, it is no wonder technical skills are being sought most by employers.
According to UK recruiters, the most challenging ‘soft skills’ are: ownership, strategic thinking, communication and persistence. More than three in five (61%) agreed that soft skills are difficult to find, and that this limits their organisation’s productivity (56%).
“Whilst some skill sets inevitably come and go according to industry shifts, our data strongly suggests that demand for tech skills shows no signs of disappearing any time soon,” says LinkedIn’s Darain Faraz.
He continues: “We have also seen “HR Benefits and Compensation” leap 18 places to feature in the UK’s Top Skills list this year. Our recent Work Satisfaction Survey found that only 40% of UK professionals feel fulfilled at work, so it’s reassuring to see that businesses are focussing on recruiting a winning HR team to ensure staff satisfaction is priority.”
To help equip the UK’s job seekers and professionals with these, and a range of other, skills, LinkedIn is hosting a Week of Learning next week, offering access to more than 5,000 online courses for free.
