LinkedIn’s chief economist says soft skills will create jobs as unemployment will rise

Kimbrough said there are both opportunities and challenges for leaders and professionals in the current environment.

“The best way for companies to navigate a really tight market like this is to think about how they can focus on skills… and maybe expand their talent pools,” she said.

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More than 40 percent of recruiters on LinkedIn use skills data to fill positions, Kimbrough said. According to LinkedIn research, the most in-demand skills are management, communication, customer service, leadership, and project management and sales.

“There’s still an element of soft skills that permeates almost every required role,” Kimbrough said. “So if you want to be desirable in this job market, those proven skills are the ones that will make you stand out from the crowd.”