REVEALED | The most in-demand skills employers are looking for in 2021

New research from recruitment app Debut analysed thousands of job listings and uncovered the most in-demand ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ skills that employers are currently looking for.

‘Hard’ skills are described as teachable and measurable capabilities while ‘soft’ skills typically include people and social skills, as well as character traits and attitudes, according to Zety.

Debut’s data identified communication (1,733 listings), management (1,558 listings), and organisation (836 listings) as some of the most in-demand ‘soft’ skills that employers and recruiters are on the look-out for.

Elsewhere, initiative (612 listings), teamwork (602 listings), and enthusiasm (508 listings) also made the ranking.

‘Many employers are looking for “soft” skills’

Spencer Symmons, Director of the specialist tech recruiter CPS Group UK, previously told HR Grapevine that many employers are currently looking for ‘soft’ skills among prospective talent.

He said this is something that jobseekers should be willing to demonstrate during a job interview.

“Many employers are looking for ‘soft skills’ at the moment – adaptability, flexibility, agility.

“Though things appear to be improving, there may still be some difficult times ahead, so candidates must explain how they have successfully overcome challenges.

“Demonstrable experience of working in a risky or disrupted environment is a real plus,” Symmons previously said.

See the top ten most in-demand ‘soft’ skills below:

Elsewhere, the research shed light on the most in-demand ‘hard’ skills for which employers are currently looking.

Data came out on top (799 listings) suggesting that being able to work and understand data is an important skill in today’s job market.

Planning (513 listings), research (473 listings), and analytical (440 listings) where other ‘hard’ skills featured high up in the rankings.

‘Remember that hard skills are transferable’

Mandy Watson, Managing Director at Ambitions Personnel, told HR Grapevine that when it comes to ‘hard’ skills, it may “seem obvious that employers are looking for hard skills as a matter of course”.

She explained: “What is important to remember is that hard skills are often transferable.The recruitment expert said that demands for these ‘hard’ skills can change.

“Employers, especially ones that operate in a narrow niche, have to be open to transferable skills from other sectors.

“This supports the idea that candidates now flip between industries these days rather than being tied to one for life,” Watson added.

For candidates, Watson added that ‘hard’ skills of any kind are valuable to employers.

“Many candidates will be surprised to hear that what they consider [to be a] day-to-day task and something they feel is their normal, is actually a highly-demanded skill set, but a clear demand is obviously there," she added.

See the top ten most in-demand ‘hard’ skills below:

The importance of ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ skills in the hiring process

In job adverts, it is common for employers and recruiters to ask for a combination of both ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ skills, therefore, it is crucial for jobseekers to demonstrate capabilities in both of these areas.

In a recent interview with the Ladders, Career Expert, Alison Doyle, said: “[Candidates will] need both hard and soft skills for any job, and it’s important to show employers that you have the combination of hybrid skills they need when you’re applying and interviewing for jobs.

“In order to get your application noticed, be sure to incorporate in your [CV] and cover letter the skills you have that are required for the position.

“Also, highlight your most relevant skills during job interviews by being able to provide real-life examples,” Doyle concluded.

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