The Most In-Demand Jobs of 2025: A Calm Before the Storm
- Dr. CK Bray
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
Trying to make sense of the global job market these days can feel like staring into a crystal ball. But thanks to LinkedIn's latest job posting data, we’re getting a surprisingly clear picture, at least before the recent economic shakeups. From October 2024 to March 2025, the labor market saw a distinct surge in demand for healthcare and food service workers, with several roles more than doubling in popularity.
Let’s be clear: this data reflects the world just before April’s trade tariffs sent economic shockwaves across multiple industries. Consider this a snapshot of what employers needed most before the storm hit.
Direct-Care and Food Service Jobs Are Skyrocketing
The fastest-growing roles right now aren’t in tech or finance; they’re in direct-care healthcare and food service. Five of the top ten roles with the biggest quarter-over-quarter jumps are all about taking care of people: dentists, dental assistants, mental health practitioners, speech-language pathologists, and rehab therapists. These roles have long been understaffed and are now seeing unprecedented hiring urgency.
Food service also surged. Restaurant specialists led the pack with demand rising over fivefold in just one quarter. Bakers and delivery drivers followed closely behind, likely thanks to our sustained appetite for food delivery and specialty dining experiences.
Fastest-Growing Job Roles (Q1 2025):
Restaurant Specialist (5.2x increase)
Dentist (4.2x)
Dental Assistant (3.4x)
Mental Health Practitioner (2.9x)
Baker (2.9x)
Speech-Language Pathologist (2.8x)
Delivery Driver (2.7x)
Rehabilitation Therapist (2.6x)
Director of Operations (2.6x)
Reliability Engineer (2.6x)
The Most In-Demand Jobs Overall: Tech, Healthcare, and… Trucking?
While healthcare and food service saw the biggest jumps in growth, tech and sales still dominate the top 10 most in-demand jobs overall. Software engineers remain number one, and nurses moved up to claim the number two spot.
One surprise? Truck drivers. This role surged 15 places to break into the top 10, reflecting growing logistics and supply chain pressures, particularly in Europe where driver shortages are becoming critical.
Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs (Q1 2025):
Software Engineer
Nurse
Salesperson
Project Manager
Account Manager
Electrical Engineer
Accountant
Sales Manager
Customer Service Representative
Truck Driver
What This Means for Talent Leaders and Job Seekers
If you’re hiring, it’s time to rethink your strategy. Roles that seemed stable six months ago are now fiercely competitive. Whether it’s finding skilled bakers or sourcing mental health professionals, the market is evolving quickly.
And for job seekers? The opportunities are there, especially if you’re willing to train in a field with growing demand.
As we move into a more uncertain economic climate, the next few months will tell whether these trends hold steady or take a sharp turn. But one thing is clear: the job market is changing fast, and those who adapt quickly will stay ahead.
Stay tuned. The next quarter may tell a very different story.
LEARN MORE FROM THE PODCAST
Header image by Freepik
Comments