What 1 Million Job Descriptions Tell Us About Hiring Trends in 2025

In 2025, the hiring landscape across the UK and globally is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Analysis of over one million job descriptions reveals clear shifts in the skills employers seek, the roles they’re creating, and how recruitment is evolving. Here’s what the data shows.

🔍 1. Skills Are Evolving—Rapidly

The most in-demand skills in 2025 are no longer purely technical—they’re hybrid. Employers are prioritising a blend of analytical thinking, resilience, adaptability, and AI literacy 1. Key findings include:

Analytical thinking is ranked the top skill by 70% of employers.

Demand for AI and big data skills has surged by 87%.

Soft skills such as leadership, flexibility, and emotional intelligence are now essential.

This reflects a broader trend: companies are hiring for potential and adaptability, not just past experience 2.

🧠 2. Job Titles Are Being Reimagined

Job titles are becoming more interdisciplinary and future-focused. Emerging roles include:

AI Prompt Engineer

Sustainability Strategist

Remote Culture Manager

Fractional CTO

Traditional roles are also being rebranded to reflect strategic value—e.g., “HR Manager” is now often “People Experience Lead” 2.

🌍 3. Remote and Hybrid Work Are the Norm

While remote work surged post-pandemic, 2025 shows a shift towards hybrid models:

55% of employees prefer hybrid working 3.

Hybrid job postings now account for nearly 25% of new listings 1.

Fully remote roles are declining slightly, especially in innovation-heavy sectors.

Job descriptions increasingly highlight location flexibility, asynchronous collaboration, and digital-first onboarding.

🤖 4. AI Is Transforming Recruitment

AI is now embedded in every stage of the hiring process:

65% of HR professionals use AI to write job descriptions and screen CVs 3.

AI tools are reducing time-to-hire by up to 90% 1.

Virtual Reality (VR) is being used for immersive job previews and skills assessments 2.

However, the human element remains vital. Companies that combine AI with empathetic candidate experiences are seeing better retention and cultural alignment.

📈 5. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Is a Core Strategy

DEI is no longer a side initiative—it’s central to recruitment strategy. Job descriptions now often include:

Inclusive language and accessibility statements.

Clear commitments to diverse hiring pipelines.

Metrics to track DEI progress 2.

Organisations that prioritise DEI report higher innovation, stronger team performance, and enhanced employer branding.

🔧 6. Upskilling and Apprenticeships Are Closing the Talent Gap

With 63% of employers citing skill shortages as a barrier to growth1, investment in talent development is rising:

Internal upskilling programmes are expanding.

Apprenticeships grew by 6.5% in 20243.

Partnerships with universities and colleges are helping build future-ready talent pipelines.

This is especially prominent in sectors like healthcare, green energy, and advanced manufacturing.

🧭 Conclusion: The Future of Hiring Is Agile, Inclusive, and AI-Enhanced

The data from over one million job descriptions paints a clear picture: hiring in 2025 is about agility, purpose, and people-first technology. Organisations that embrace these trends will not only attract top talent—they’ll build resilient, future-ready teams.