The labor market changes every year. New professions appear, others shrink, and the skills employers ask for keep shifting. That makes it hard to say which jobs will be in demand a few years from now. But we can look at the latest official projections and hiring data to see where demand is strongest today.
This guide covers the most in-demand jobs in 2026, the skills behind them and the roles that are losing ground. It is useful for students choosing a field, people thinking about retraining, and employers planning who they need to hire next.
How the labor market has changed since 2020
When we first wrote this article in 2020, the big story was automation in factories and the sudden shift to remote work. Today the main forces are different: artificial intelligence, an aging population and the energy transition.
Overall job growth in the US is slowing. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employment Projections for 2025–35, released in August 2026, expect employment to grow by 5.9 million jobs, or 3.5%, over the decade. That is well below the 10.9% growth of 2015–2025.
Where growth does happen, it is concentrated. According to the same BLS release, healthcare and social assistance will add over 2.2 million jobs, about 37% of all new jobs. Professional, scientific and technical services will add 926,700 jobs, driven largely by AI-related demand.
The global picture is similar. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 expects 170 million new jobs to be created and 92 million to be displaced by 2030, a net gain of 78 million jobs worldwide.
There is still plenty of work, but the jobs are moving and the skills needed are changing fast.
The skills behind in-demand jobs
Whatever profession you choose, employers will have a set of skills and personal qualities they look for. Some are new. Many are the same ones that mattered in 2020.
The WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025 skills chapter says employers expect 39% of workers’ core skills to change by 2030. Here is what stands out.
Analytical thinking
According to the WEF report (2025), about seven in 10 companies consider analytical thinking an essential skill, the top core skill for the third edition in a row. Employers want people who can look at a problem, weigh the evidence and reach a sound decision.
AI, data and technology literacy
The same WEF report (2025) lists AI and big data as the fastest-growing skills, followed closely by networks and cybersecurity and technological literacy. You don’t need to be an engineer. But in most roles you will be expected to use AI tools well, check their output and understand the data behind your work.
Creative thinking
Original thinking still matters. Machines can produce drafts, but people decide what is worth making and why. The WEF report (2025) names creative thinking among the skills growing in importance.
Flexibility, resilience and lifelong learning
New tools arrive every year, so the ability to keep learning is one of the most valuable things you can offer. The WEF report (2025) estimates that out of every 100 workers, 59 will need training by 2030. People who adapt quickly will have a clear advantage.
Leadership, teamwork and communication
Team leads, managers and founders remain in demand. So do people who work well in a team, explain ideas clearly and build trust. Speaking more than one language and working well across cultures still opens doors at global companies.
The most in-demand jobs in 2026
The list below combines three types of evidence: official BLS projections for the US, the WEF global outlook and LinkedIn’s data on which job titles are growing fastest. Pay figures are US medians from BLS for May 2025.
AI engineers and AI specialists
AI roles are the clearest growth story of the last two years. In LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2026 list for the US (as reported by Becker’s Hospital Review, January 2026), artificial intelligence engineers ranked first, followed by AI consultants and strategists. Data annotators and AI/machine learning researchers also made the top five.
The WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025 puts AI and machine learning specialists among its top three fastest-growing jobs worldwide, along with big data specialists and fintech engineers.
Key skills: programming (often Python), machine learning, working with large language models, data handling and clear communication with non-technical teams.
Data scientists
Data scientists turn raw data into decisions. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 35% growth for data scientists from 2025 to 2035, with a median pay of $120,230 in May 2025.
Key skills: statistics, Python or R, SQL, machine learning and the ability to explain findings to business leaders.
Software developers
Even small businesses need software now. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 10% growth for software developers from 2025 to 2035, with a median pay of $135,980 in May 2025. The WEF report (2025) also lists software and applications developers among the fastest-growing jobs globally.
The role is changing, though. Developers increasingly work alongside AI coding tools, so system design, code review and problem-solving matter more than writing every line by hand.
Key skills: one or more programming languages, cloud platforms, testing, security basics and working with AI-assisted development tools.
Cybersecurity specialists
As more of the economy runs online, protecting systems and data has become critical. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 21% growth for information security analysts from 2025 to 2035, with a median pay of $129,180 in May 2025. The WEF report (2025) places security management specialists in its global top five.
Key skills: network security, threat analysis, incident response, cloud security and industry certifications.
Nurse practitioners and other healthcare roles
Healthcare is the biggest source of new jobs, mainly because populations are aging. Nurse practitioners are the fastest-growing occupation in the US: the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 41% growth from 2025 to 2035, with a median pay of $132,300 in May 2025. Psychiatric nurse practitioners also appear on LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2026 list.
The shortage is not only in the US. Canada’s Canadian Occupational Projection System for 2024–2033, as reported by HRD Canada in February 2025, expects registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses to keep facing a strong risk of shortage. The same report expects 8.1 million job openings in Canada over the decade, most of them from retirements.
Key skills: clinical training and licensing, patient communication, empathy and the ability to work under pressure.
Electricians, data center technicians and clean energy trades
Skilled trades are back in the spotlight. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 9% growth for electricians from 2025 to 2035, with about 72,700 openings a year and a median pay of $63,190 in May 2025. BLS links this demand to solar and wind connections, grid upgrades and rising electricity use from AI and data centers.
Clean energy roles are growing even faster. In the BLS 2025–35 projections, solar photovoltaic installers are expected to grow 36.5% and wind turbine service technicians 29.5%. Datacenter technicians also appear on LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2026 list. The 2020 advice about caring for the environment has turned into real career paths.
Key skills: technical training or an apprenticeship, safety standards, troubleshooting and reading technical plans.
HR and people professionals
HR roles remain steady. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 6% growth for human resources specialists from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 73,700 openings a year and a median pay of $75,940 in May 2025. Benefits advisers also made LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2026 list.
The job itself has moved on from paperwork. Modern HR teams plan workforce needs, run reskilling programs, manage employee experience and choose which AI tools to use in hiring and training. As in 2020, strong communication skills and knowledge of employment law are essential.
Key skills: recruiting, employment law, data and people analytics, change management and communication.
Sales and business development
Sales is a mixed picture. The BLS 2025–35 projections expect sales and related occupations overall to decline 1.4%, partly because of e-commerce and AI tools in the sales process. Yet LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2026 list includes sales executives, business development executives, advertising sales specialists and new home sales specialists.
The takeaway: routine, transactional selling is shrinking, while complex, relationship-driven sales roles are growing. As in 2020, the job suits people who are persuasive, resilient and quick to learn, but buyers now expect sellers to bring real expertise.
Key skills: consultative selling, negotiation, CRM and data skills, and industry knowledge.
Teachers and trainers
Teaching is as old as history and is still in demand. The WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025 lists university, higher education and secondary teachers among the jobs with the largest growth in absolute numbers by 2030. With most workers needing new skills, corporate trainers and coaches who can help adults learn are valuable too.
Key skills: subject expertise, communication, patience and using digital learning tools.
Jobs under pressure
Not every role is growing. According to the BLS 2025–35 projections, office and administrative support is the fastest-declining occupational group, expected to shrink 4.0% and lose 752,100 jobs, largely due to automation and AI. BLS also notes that generative AI may limit demand for some jobs in arts, design, entertainment and media.
The WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025 lists cashiers and ticket clerks, administrative assistants, printing workers, and accountants and auditors among the fastest-declining jobs.
This doesn’t mean these careers disappear. Designers, for example, are still hired, but those who combine creative skill with strategy, brand thinking and AI tools stand out. The same is true across most roles: people who use AI well are less likely to be replaced by it.
How to prepare for an in-demand job
If you are choosing a career or planning a switch, a few habits will help whatever field you pick:
- Follow the data, not the hype. Check official projections such as the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook or your country’s labor market outlook before investing in a degree or course.
- Build AI and data skills into your current role. You don’t need a career change to start. Learn the tools your industry is adopting.
- Show, don’t tell. A portfolio, certifications or concrete project results make you stand out, especially in tech, design and data roles.
- Consider the trades and healthcare. Many of the fastest-growing jobs need an apprenticeship or a focused clinical program rather than a four-year degree.
- Keep learning. With so many core skills expected to change by 2030, the ability to retrain quickly may be the most valuable skill of all.
How employers can hire for these roles faster with Talenteria
Many of these roles are hard to fill. Employers compete for a small pool of AI, data, cybersecurity and healthcare talent, while still receiving large volumes of applications for other jobs.
Talenteria helps recruiting teams move faster without losing quality:
- AI resume screening against skills: every applicant is scored against criteria built from your job description, with an AI Candidate Profile showing strengths, gaps and suggested interview questions.
- AI video and voice interviews: an AI interviewer runs structured first-round interviews 24/7, asks follow-up questions and delivers a scored report. Your recruiters make the decisions.
- AI candidate search across your talent pools: search everyone you’ve ever met in plain language and get AI-suggested candidates for each new job, so strong past applicants are not forgotten.
The bottom line
The most in-demand jobs in 2026 cluster around three forces: AI and data, an aging population that needs more care, and the energy and infrastructure buildout. Roles in AI, data science, software, cybersecurity, nursing and the skilled trades are growing fastest, while routine office work is shrinking.
The skills behind these jobs are easier to predict than the job titles. Analytical thinking, comfort with AI and data, creativity, adaptability and good communication will stay valuable whatever the market looks like next. To see how Talenteria can help you find and hire people with these skills, visit www.talenteria.com.
