By the time you read this, chances are you have already set your goals for the year.
Some will be about progression. Others about change. A few about finally doing something that has been on the list for a while. That is normal. January is when intentions turn into plans.
What often gets missed at this point is whether those plans line up with what is happening in the job market. Roles are changing quickly, expectations are shifting, and the skills employers look for are not standing still. Setting a goal is one thing. Knowing what to develop to support it is another.
The data coming out of both Huntr and LinkedIn gives a useful snapshot of where demand is building and how skill requirements are evolving. It shows clear signals about what employers are prioritising, and just as importantly, how broad that picture really is.
This edition examines what is happening in the job market to help you understand which skills are worth focusing on this year.
What the latest data shows
When you look at the skills data from the latest report by Huntr, the first thing you notice is how broad the skill mix has become across roles. Job descriptions are pulling in capabilities from multiple areas, rather than sitting neatly within one function or discipline.
Certain skills now appear across roles that would not traditionally have been grouped together. Tools, platforms, and ways of working that were once role-specific now show up in a much wider range of positions. This reflects how lean teams are becoming and how much more people are expected to do.
The data also shows that skills are being described in the context of day-to-day work. Employers are paying attention to how people apply their skills, how they contribute, and how they operate within a role.
Another pattern is focus. Applications that gain traction tend to present a tighter set of skills that align closely with the role being applied for. Skills that clearly relate to the work are easier for hiring teams to understand and assess.
Overall, the data points to a shift in how skills are being assessed. Employers are paying closer attention to how skills fit together and how they support the work they need done.competition is higher, and a CV that worked a few years ago is unlikely to hold up now.
Where demand Is accelerating
The recent LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise Report gives a useful view of where demand has been building over the past few years. It highlights roles that have shown consistent growth, backed by hiring activity.
What stands out when you read the list is the spread. Advanced AI roles such as AI Engineer and Head of AI feature strongly, with skills linked to large language models, machine learning, and AI strategy. Alongside those are roles grounded in delivery, regulation, and infrastructure, including building inspectors, safety engineers, energy analysts, and heating and air conditioning engineers.
There is also clear demand for roles focused on judgement and decision-making. Strategic Advisors, Employee Relations Specialists, Corporate Partnership Managers, and senior leadership roles like CFO and Chief Marketing Officer all appear. These roles place weight on experience, context, and the ability to operate at a senior level.
Sales and commercial leadership also remain present, with roles like sales manager and head of product management appearing alongside technical and operational positions. This points to continued demand for people who can connect strategy, delivery, and outcomes.
Taken together, the list shows demand accelerating across multiple directions at the same time. Technical depth, operational capability, leadership, and advisory skills all feature prominently. From a career development perspective, this gives a useful signal about where skill investment is likely to pay off during 2026.
What stands out for 2026
Skills are travelling across roles. Tools, platforms, and ways of working appear in job families that would once have been separate. Data-related skills show up beyond technical roles. Commercial skills appear alongside operational and delivery-focused positions. Leadership and advisory skills sit across sectors rather than being tied to one industry.
Another clear signal is the balance between depth and breadth. Many of the fastest-growing roles combine specialist knowledge with an expectation that people can operate across systems, teams, and decisions. This shows up in technical roles that include strategy and governance skills, and in non-technical roles that still require comfort with data, platforms, or structured tools.
There is also a strong signal around application. Skills are being linked to how work is carried out day to day. The emphasis is on using skills in context, contributing to outcomes, and operating within real constraints. This reflects how organisations are working now, with fewer handovers and more shared responsibility.
Taken together, the data shows that demand is not concentrating in one narrow area. It is spreading across technical, operational, commercial, and leadership capabilities, with overlap between them. For anyone thinking about career development this year, these signals help clarify which skills are becoming more widely expected across the market.
What this means for your career goals this year
By now, you will probably have a clear idea of what you want from this year. What the data helps with is the next question. What do you actually need to develop to support those goals?
When you look across the skills data and the roles where demand is growing, a common theme is range. Skills that sit across systems, tools, decision-making, and delivery keep appearing in very different roles. These are not tied to one job title or one sector. They show up wherever work is becoming more connected and more complex.
Another thing that stands out is how skills build on each other. People are not starting from scratch. They are adding to what they already know. New tools, new responsibilities, and new ways of working tend to layer on top of existing experience. That makes development feel more achievable and more relevant to where you are now.
Taken together, this changes how it makes sense to think about career development this year. Goals still matter, but progress is far more likely when you have an understanding of what jobs are going to look like this year and beyond.
A thought to end the month
By the end of January, the initial burst of motivation usually settles into something more realistic. Plans start to feel real, and questions begin to surface about what will actually make a difference this year.
The data in this edition does not point to one obvious answer. What it does show is how quickly expectations are shifting and how closely skills are tied to the work employers need done now. Development is becoming less about one big leap and more about building the right capability over time.
If there is one thing to take from this edition, it is this. When you start thinking about which skills to develop this year, begin by reading job adverts for roles you would like to progress into. Those descriptions give you some of the clearest signals about where demand is heading and what employers value today.
As always, thank you for reading and for taking the time to reflect. I hope this edition helps you make more informed choices as the year unfolds.
Best of luck for 2026!
Dave Crumby
Your Career Optimiser | Certified CV Writer