In recruitment, some clients often think we can read their minds. Not all clients. But some.
Luckily, LinkedIn News gives us all the insight we need to fake reading minds and get it right every time.
Their Skills on the Rise 2026 data tells us what businesses are looking for, letting us transform into modern-day mind readers. Think Professor X of the recruitment world.
You might assume this insight is just for candidates. It’s not.
As an employer, this tells you what your competitors are prioritising – and where the talent market is moving next.
And the themes are clear:
Data. Commercial thinking. Human skills.
They’re no longer “nice to have.” They’re baseline expectations.
Of course, we’re going to HAVE to link this to our specialist areas.
Here’s what that looks like on the ground – and with that all important, cheeky Glu Recruit link.
Office Support
Digital confidence isn’t optional anymore.
Today’s business support professionals aren’t just managing diaries – they’re driving operational efficiency.
We like to call them the backbone of the business.
Skills on the rise:
- Digital literacy & productivity platforms
- AI-assisted workflow tools
- Stakeholder coordination
- Reporting & admin analytics
- Process improvement
Hiring insight:
Employers want organised, proactive professionals who are tech-savvy and commercially aware – not just administratively strong.
In B2B environments, that blend of people skills and operational precision is what keeps everything moving.
Accountancy & Finance
Finance is shifting from compliance to influence.
In demand:
- AI literacy & analytics
- Forecasting & financial planning
- Risk & governance
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Strategic business partnering
Hiring insight:
The stand-out candidates? The ones who translate numbers into strategy.
In B2B environments especially, finance isn’t just reporting performance – it’s shaping pricing, forecasting growth, managing risk and influencing big commercial decisions.
The strongest professionals don’t just present the figures; they explain what they mean and what to do next.
Sales
You may not believe it, but sales is still human at its core. Good sales people focus on building connections – fuelled by insight.
Growing skills:
- Client relationship management
- Lead qualification
- Data-led decision making
- AI forecasting tools
- Cross-team collaboration
Hiring insight:
Emotional intelligence backed by commercial analytics wins every time.
The strongest performers combine relationship-building skills with insight-led strategy.
Creative & Digital
Storytelling alone isn’t enough in 2026. A measurable impact is important.
On the rise:
- Content strategy & visual storytelling
- Campaign performance analysis
- AI-driven content optimisation
- Brand & community building
- Commercial awareness
Hiring insight:
Creative instinct + ROI focus = serious competitive edge.
In B2B markets especially, creativity needs to do more than look good – it has to generate leads, support sales and strengthen brand positioning.
The strongest creative professionals balance big ideas with performance metrics, proving the commercial impact behind the concept.
IT
You guessed it. AI and business alignment lead the way with this one.
Tech roles are evolving rapidly – and so are expectations.
High-growth skills:
- Prompt engineering & generative AI
- Cloud & systems integration
- Automation
- Change management
- Stakeholder communication
Hiring insight:
Technical ability is vital – but translating tech into commercial value is what sets candidates apart.
Property
Commercially sharper. More data-driven.
Property professionals are navigating difficult economic and regulatory change.
In focus:
- Compliance & risk
- Data-led asset management
- Negotiation
- Financial forecasting
- Sustainability
Hiring insight:
Strategic thinking and analytical capability are becoming key differentiators.
Industrial & operations
Digital transformation isn’t just for desk jobs!
Even more traditional sectors are evolving.
Emerging priorities:
- Health & safety expertise
- Process optimisation
- Industry 4.0 awareness
- Data-informed maintenance
- Technical adaptability
Hiring insight:
The strongest candidates combine hands-on expertise and openness to embrace the digital world.
The bottom line
The UK workforce is evolving.
The professionals rising fastest in 2026 aren’t just technically capable – they are:
- Digitally fluent
- Commercially aware
- Strategically minded
- Adaptable
At Glu Recruit, we’re seeing it first-hand across every market we support.
If you need support finding a new role or skilled candidates in 2026 – talk to the experts. That’s us btw. Not LinkedIn News.
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