The Skills and Roles That Employers Are Prioritising in 2026

The job market has been volatile in recent years, to say the least. The fallout from the 2020 COVID pandemic, combined with the rapid acceleration of AI technologies, has reshaped hiring expectations across almost every industry. That shift has created a range of challenges for employers and job seekers, from widening skill gaps to the pressure to adapt to new ways of working.

There are positives to highlight as well. While the vacancies market has plateaued rather than declined through 2025, most indicators point to moderate hiring growth in 2026. That growth will not be universal across all industries, and it comes with clearer expectations about the skills employers want to see. Understanding those expectations helps job seekers decide which capabilities to develop and present them more effectively when putting together and sending a CV.

With that context in mind, here is a closer look at the skills and roles UK employers are prioritising in 2026.

• AI, data, cybersecurity, and cloud skills top employer priorities for 2026, reflecting the ongoing push toward digital transformation and automation.
• Soft skills remain equally critical, especially communication, adaptability, collaboration, and continuous learning, as workplaces navigate rapid technological and structural change.
• Hiring demand is concentrated in specific high-growth sectors, including AI and tech roles, healthcare and social care, green energy and sustainability, and the skilled trades.
• Demographic pressures are reshaping demand, with an ageing population increasing the need for healthcare, social care, and apprenticeships in sectors facing retiring workforces.
• Regulatory and policy changes in data protection, climate risk, financial compliance, and building safety are creating strong demand for compliance-focused and risk-oriented roles.
  

Employers in 2026 are focusing on a mix of technical capability and adaptable human strengths. The hard skills below show up repeatedly across the research, and they sit alongside a small set of people-centred behaviours that still shape performance in modern workplaces:

• AI and automation awareness: using AI tools confidently and knowing how automation supports everyday work.
• Data literacy: turning data into clear insights as employers face ongoing shortages in analytical capability.
• Cybersecurity basics: understanding core risks and data-protection expectations as threats continue to rise.
• Cloud familiarity: working with cloud systems and digital workflows as more organisations modernise older environments.
• Sustainability knowledge: awareness of energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and environmental compliance as net-zero commitments expand.
  

Soft Skills That Consistently Matter

Employers want people who communicate clearly, adapt quickly to new tools or processes, and work well with others in hybrid teams. They also value a willingness to learn, especially as roles shift and technology becomes more embedded in daily work. Small signals, such as recent training or examples of learning on the job, can make a noticeable difference.

These skills continue to guide hiring decisions going into 2026 and provide useful context for the roles that are seeing the strongest growth in the year ahead.

The Roles Seeing the Fastest Growth in 2026

Hiring activity in 2026 is concentrated in areas where skills shortages are most visible and where employers face growing operational pressure. The roles below appear consistently across forecasts, industry reports, and sector-specific data.

Roles attracting the strongest demand include:

• AI and data specialists: AI engineers, data scientists, and data analysts remain at the centre of digital transformation as organisations adopt new tools and automate more workflows.
• Cybersecurity professionals: security analysts and information security managers are in demand as cyber threats increase and regulatory expectations strengthen.
• Healthcare and social care workers: registered nurses, home health aides, and allied health professionals are needed to meet rising demand from an ageing population.
• Green economy and sustainability roles: environmental officers, energy managers, and renewable-energy technicians are required as businesses respond to net-zero targets.
• Skilled trades and construction roles: electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and construction managers are needed for infrastructure projects and energy-efficiency retrofits.
• Risk, compliance, and governance roles: credit risk managers, data-governance leads, and compliance officers support businesses facing tighter regulatory and reporting requirements.

These roles show where hiring pressure is strongest and where employers are most likely to compete for talent throughout 2026.

What Is Driving These Hiring Priorities in 2026

The roles and skills rising in demand are being shaped by several pressures that cut across every major UK sector. These forces explain why certain capabilities are becoming non-negotiable for employers.

Key drivers influencing 2026 hiring

• AI adoption: automation continues to reshape daily tasks, creating demand for people who can work confidently with AI tools and support new digital processes.
• Hybrid working patterns: widespread hybrid models require workers who communicate clearly, manage their time well, and collaborate across locations.
• Demographic change: an ageing population is increasing demand in healthcare, social care, and roles that support long-term workforce planning.
• Regulatory pressure: stricter rules around data protection, climate disclosures, and financial compliance are driving growth in risk, compliance, and governance roles.

These shifts are shaping both the roles employers prioritise and the skills they expect candidates to bring into the workplace.

What This Means for Job Seekers in 2026

These shifts in employer priorities create a clearer picture of what candidates need to bring to the table. The focus is less on specific job titles and more on whether someone can operate confidently in a technology-driven, regulated, and fast-changing environment.

Keep this in mind:

• Technical confidence matters: even non-technical roles now expect basic familiarity with AI tools, data, and modern digital systems.
• Human skills carry more weight: clear communication, adaptability, and teamwork remain essential in hybrid workplaces that rely on trust and collaboration.
• Up-to-date skills stand out: employers value candidates who show recent learning activity and the ability to keep pace with shifting expectations.
• Growth areas offer more opportunity: fields such as AI, healthcare, green energy, skilled trades, and compliance show the strongest hiring momentum.

Together, these points reflect a job market where confident, adaptable candidates are best placed to succeed as roles and requirements continue to evolve.

The outlook for 2026 shows a job market shaped by rapid technological change, shifting workforce needs, and clearer sustainability and regulatory expectations. Employers are focusing on people who can operate confidently in digital environments, adapt quickly to evolving processes, and contribute to teams that work across locations. At the same time, the strongest hiring momentum is concentrated in fields where demand significantly outweighs supply, from AI and data to healthcare, skilled trades, and compliance.

These trends highlight a market that rewards candidates who combine technical capability with practical, people-centred skills. As the landscape continues to change, these combined strengths will remain central to how employers hire and how job seekers position themselves for opportunities in the year ahead.