LinkedIn Learning, surfaced timely data from their network of over 660+ million professionals and 20+ million jobs to reveal the 15 most in-demand soft and hard skills of 2020. While task-oriented skills remain critical for success at work, LinkedIn’s data indicates that employers are giving equal importance to soft skills that play a critical role.

Among soft skills, while emotional Intelligence makes a new entry to this year’s top soft skills list, creativity, collaboration, persuasion and adaptability continues to be among the most in demand soft skills. 

Here is the list of top 5 soft skills in demand:

• Creativity
• Persuasion
• Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Emotional Intelligence

Now talking about hard skills, blockchain is a new entrant and has in fact made  it to the top most in demand hard skill. 

The demand for blockchain further reiterates that many companies across different sectors are looking to leverage that technology in 2020. Besides blockchain other skills in demand include data computing, analytical reasoning, and artificial intelligence. 

Here is the list of of top 10 hard skills in demand:

• Blockchain
• Cloud Computing
• Analytical Reasoning
• Artificial Intelligence
• UX Design
• Business Analysis
• Affiliate marketing
• Sales
• Scientific Computing
• Video Production

While the top 10 hard skills in demand seem to be driven by an increased use of technology, skills like sales and video production are also in the list. Besides skills like UX design and scientific computing, employers also demand skills like business analysis and affiliate marketing. The list shows how employers will need talent for not only implementing technologies but also for making most of its potential. 

Further, such an extensive list of skills in demand also highlights that employers in this rapidly changing pace of work, need talent with multiple skills sets. While specialization in particular areas would be heavily in demand, professionals across sectors and across the globe also have to hone their soft skills like creativity, persuasion and emotional intelligence in order to stay relevant and be job ready.