Skills in Demand by Industry

Top Skills in Demand by Industry

Different types of jobs require different abilities and qualifications. In the charts below you will see what skills and certifications are important for various industries. Skills are grouped as:

• Occupational Skills  - skills learned on the job or through training
• Social-emotional – thinking skills, people skills, language skills, managing resources, and personal traits
• Tools and Equipment – the ability to use specific tools or equipment
• Technologies – the ability to work with specific technologies
• Certifications – specific certifications required by employers

To view skills in demand by an occupational group visit our occupation page. For other industry trends check out the Industry Trends page.

General Observations:

• In the Utilities industry, all job postings (100%) mentioned occupational skills needed, while in arts, entertainment, and recreation only 66% did.
• Social-emotional skills were mentioned the most in Utilities (100%) and public administration (98%). Most industries wanted these skills at least 80% of the time, except for other services (75%).
• Professional, technical, and scientific services mentioned technologies the most (63%), while arts, entertainment, and recreation mentioned them the least (9%).
• Construction (27%), manufacturing (23%), and wholesale and retail trade (21%) mentioned tools and equipment the most.
• Health care and social assistance mentioned certifications the most (36%).

Accommodation and Food Services

This sector includes businesses that provide short-term places to stay and extra services for travelers and people on vacation. Places like hotels, motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, RV parks, and campgrounds are part of this industry. Businesses that make food and drinks for customers are also included.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Almost all job postings (93%) mention needing social-emotional skills. 
• Occupational skills for the job are mentioned in 80% of postings. 
• They do not mention tools or technologies very often. 
• Certifications are only mentioned in 15% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Administrative Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services

This sector has two main kinds of businesses: those that help companies run day-to-day, and those dealing with waste management. The first type does things like office work, hiring workers, paperwork, customer service, security, cleaning, and packaging. Waste management companies handle collecting, treating, and getting rid of waste and also clean up polluted areas and septic tanks.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Almost all job postings (97%) mention needing social-emotional skills. 
• Occupational skills are mentioned in 81% of postings. 
• They do not often mention specific technologies or tools. 
• Certifications are mentioned in 49% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

This sector covers organizations that offer cultural, entertainment, and recreational activities. They might put on live shows, events, or exhibits for people to enjoy, or they might preserve and display historical or cultural items. Some provide the skills needed for making art or putting on performances. Others offer facilities or services for sports, hobbies, or leisure activities.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Almost all job postings (95%) mention needing social-emotional skills. 
• Occupational skills are mentioned in 66% of postings. 
• They do not mention technologies or tools often. 
• Certifications are mentioned in 46% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Construction

This sector includes companies that build, repair, and renovate buildings, as well as develop land. It is divided into three parts: building construction, heavy and civil engineering construction, and specialty contractors.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Almost all job postings (92%) mention needing social-emotional skills. 
• Occupational skills are mentioned in 89% of postings. 
• Technologies are mentioned in 31% of postings. 
• Tools and equipment are specified in 27% of job postings. 
• Certifications are mentioned in 42% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Educational Services

This sector covers places that provide education and training in different subjects. This includes schools, colleges, universities, and training centres.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Most job postings (84%) mention needing social-emotional skills. 
• Occupational skills are mentioned in 70% of postings. 
• Technologies are mentioned in 26% of postings, but tools are rarely mentioned. 
• Certifications are mentioned in 26% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Finance and Insurance

This sector includes companies that deal with money and financial transactions. Some take deposits and give out loans, while others manage risks through insurance. They collect fees, invest money, and make payments according to agreements.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Almost all job postings (99%) mention needing social-emotional skills. 
• Occupational skills are mentioned in 92% of postings. 
• Technologies are mentioned in 40% of postings, but tools and technologies are rarely mentioned. 
• Certifications are asked for in 25% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Health Care and Social Assistance

This sector includes organizations that take care of people’s health, provide places to live for medical reasons, and offer social assistance like counseling and childcare.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Almost all job postings (95%) mention needing social-emotional skills. 
• Occupational skills are mentioned in 77% of postings. 
• Certifications are asked for in 36% of job postings. 
• Technologies are mentioned in 34% of postings, but tools are rarely mentioned.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Information and Cultural Industries

This sector includes companies that create and share information and cultural products and services. It covers companies that make books, movies, music, and TV shows, as well as those that help process data or provide equipment.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Almost all job postings (99%) mention needing social-emotional skills. 
• Occupational skills are mentioned in 83% of postings. 
• Technologies are mentioned in 31% of postings, but tools are rarely mentioned. 
• Certifications are mentioned in 22% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Management of Companies and Enterprises

This sector includes companies that oversee other companies or have a big stake in them, making decisions about how they are run. Examples include holding companies, corporate offices, and regional offices.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Most job postings (90%) mention needing social-emotional skills. 
• Occupational skills are mentioned in 89% of job postings. 
• Technologies are mentioned in 29% of postings, but tools are rarely mentioned. 
• Certifications are mentioned in 54% of job postings. 

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Manufacturing

This sector includes companies that make new products. These products may be ready to be used, or things that need more work by other companies before they are ready. Activities like putting parts together, mixing materials, and giving products a final touch like coloring or coating are all part of this sector. These companies are often called plants, factories, or mills.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Most job postings (94%) mention needing social-emotional skills. 
• Specific skills for the job are mentioned in 91% of postings. 
• Technologies are mentioned in 40% of postings, and tools and equipment are specified in 23% of job postings. 
• Certifications are mentioned in 91% of postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Other Services 

This sector includes businesses that fix things like cars, machines, and equipment to keep them running smoothly. Some offer personal care services like caring for pets or doing laundry. It can also cover places like religious organizations, advocacy groups, and associations that support various causes.

• In this industry, understanding and relating to people is important. Social-emotional skills were mentioned in 75% of job postings. 
• Occupational skills were mentioned in 79% of job postings. 
• Technologies were mentioned in 14% of postings, but tools and equipment were rarely mentioned.
• Certifications were mentioned in 32% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

This sector includes companies where the main thing they sell is the knowledge and skills of their workers. It includes businesses like law firms, accounting firms, architecture and engineering companies, computer design services, and consulting firms.

• In this industry being good with people is important. Almost all job postings (96%) mention needing social-emotional skills.
• Occupation skills are mentioned in 91% of postings.
• Technologies are mentioned in 63% of postings, but tools and equipment are rarely mentioned.
• Certifications are mentioned in 24% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Public Administration

This sector covers government organizations.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Almost all job postings (96%) mention needing social-emotional skills.
• Occupational skills are mentioned in 92% of postings.
• Technologies are mentioned in 47% of postings, but tools and equipment are rarely mentioned. 
• Certifications are mentioned in 37% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

This sector involves companies that rent, lease, or otherwise let others use things. It also includes companies that handle real estate, like managing properties, buying or selling them, and appraising them.

• In this industry, occupational skills are important. Most job postings (86%) mention needing these skills.
• Social-emotional skills are in high demand, mentioned in 95% of postings.
• Technologies are mentioned in 31% of postings.
• 34% of postings mention tools and equipment.
• Certifications are mentioned in 52% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Retail Trade

This sector includes businesses that sell stuff directly to people and provide services related to those sales. Retailers usually sell things in small amounts to the general public. There are two main types: those with physical stores you can visit, and those without, like vending machines, online shops, door-to-door, or mail-order services.

• In this industry, both occupational skills and people skills are really important. 
• Almost all job postings (95%) mention occupational skills and 90% mention social-emotional skills.
• The other skill categories are rarely mentioned.
• Certifications are asked for in only 7% of job postings, which is the lowest compared to other industries.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Transportation and Warehousing

This sector includes businesses that move people and things, store stuff and offer services to these businesses. They use different methods of transportation like roads (trucks and buses), trains, ships, planes, and pipelines. This includes companies like postal services and courier companies. Many of these businesses work as big networks spread out over a wide area.

• In this industry, being good with people is important. Most job postings (86%) mention needing social-emotional skills.
• Occupational skills are mentioned in 92% of postings. 
• Technologies are mentioned in 25% of postings, but tools and equipment are rarely mentioned.
• Certifications are mentioned in 34% of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Utilities

The utility industry is made up of companies that handle electricity, gas, and water. They produce, move, control, and deliver electricity, distribute natural gas, treat and deliver water, manage sewer systems, and run sewage treatment plants. They usually do this through a network of lines, pipes, and facilities.

• In this industry, both occupational and social-emotional skills are important. Every job posting (100%) mentions needing these skills.
• Technologies are mentioned in over half of the postings (56%), but tools and equipment are rarely mentioned.
• 56% of job postings mention certifications.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Wholesale Trade

The wholesale trade industry includes companies that sell goods in large quantities to other businesses, like retailers and institutions. They usually work from warehouses or offices ad are a middle step in getting goods from manufacturers to retailers.

• In this industry both occupational and social-emotional skills are important. Almost all job postings (96%) mention needing these skills.
• Technologies are mentioned in over a third of postings (37%)
• 21% of postings mention tools and equipment.
• Certifications are mentioned in one-quarter of job postings.

Here are the top skills they are looking for in each category.

Source: Vicinity Jobs, Postings by Industry (2-digit NAICS) BY Skill Group by Skill based on postings found between 01 Jan 23 and 31 Dec 23. 

Industries with limited data available have not been included.

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