The No. 1 Soft Skill That’s Making Job Seekers Stand Out in 2025, According to LinkedIn
It turns out being a people person isn’t just nice—it’s necessary in today’s job market. LinkedIn’s new “Skills on the Rise 2025” report reveals a powerful trend: soft skills are no longer optional—they’re your golden ticket to getting hired.
While AI is reshaping industries at lightning speed, it’s the human touch that remains irreplaceable. That’s why seven of the top 10 in-demand skills on LinkedIn this year are soft skills—those hard-to-define but crucial abilities that help people navigate relationships, collaboration, and change.
“We do the skills a disservice by calling them ‘soft,’” says Andrew McCaskill, a LinkedIn career expert. “These human-centric skills are game changers.”
Conflict Mitigation Takes the Top Spot
Leading the list? Conflict mitigation—a skill that’s more relevant than ever as workplaces adjust to post-pandemic dynamics, generational divides, and even rising office tensions. A Harris Poll report revealed that 30% of employed U.S. job-seekers say their coworkers are more confrontational now than three years ago.
The ability to remain calm and professional amid growing tension is what sets top candidates apart. “The people who can keep their professionalism in the midst of that … those people are going to win,” McCaskill explains.
Here Are the Soft Skills on the Rise:
- Conflict mitigation (#2 overall)
- Adaptability (#3)
- Innovative thinking (#5)
- Public speaking (#6)
- Solution-based selling (#7)
- Customer engagement and support (#8)
- Stakeholder management (#9)
These skills are rising in demand because they’re uniquely human. Unlike technical skills that AI can replicate, soft skills are still best delivered by real people with real empathy and understanding.
Even Introverts Can Win with Soft Skills
Worried you need to become the loudest voice in the room? Don’t be. “Even if you are an introvert, you’ve got to figure out, ‘How can I communicate my enthusiasm?’” says McCaskill. This could be as simple as a thoughtful thank-you note after an interview or sharing a story about how you defused a tense team situation.
McCaskill’s advice: add your soft skills to your resume—and come prepared with stories to show them off. When a hiring manager asks, “Tell me about a time you solved a company problem?”—they’re really checking for innovative thinking and team collaboration.
So if you’re on the job hunt in 2025, don’t just polish your resume—polish your people skills. Because in a world of smart machines, it’s the most human among us who will stand out.
