Mumbai: LinkedIn has unveiled its Skills on the Rise 2026 list for India, identifying the capabilities professionals should prioritise to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving job market shaped by AI adoption, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional work.
Within marketing specifically, the platform highlighted a new blend of technical AI fluency, creative communication, and business impact measurement as the defining skills mix for the coming years.
Prompt Engineering, Visual Storytelling top marketing skills growth
According to LinkedIn, the top five fastest-growing marketing skills in India are Prompt Engineering, Visual Storytelling, Performance Analysis, Collaboration, and Creative Thinking.
The broader top 10 marketing skills on the rise in India are:
- Prompt Engineering
- Visual Storytelling
- Performance Analysis
- Collaboration
- Creative Thinking
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Large Language Models (LLM) Optimisation
- Event Planning & Coordination
- Search Engine Optimisation
- Market Research
The rankings reflect how marketing roles are expanding beyond traditional brand and communication functions into AI-enabled execution, data interpretation, and measurable ROI delivery.
AI and ROI pressures reshaping marketer capability needs
LinkedIn’s analysis shows the surge in AI-related marketing skills is closely tied to mounting performance accountability.
The company noted that 90% of B2B marketers now cite capturing audience attention as their biggest challenge, while 89% say measuring long-term impact has become harder. In this environment, capabilities such as prompt engineering, performance analysis, and visual storytelling are emerging as essential for driving business outcomes rather than just campaigns.
From specialisation to “skill stacking”
Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn Career Expert and India Senior Managing Editor, said hiring trends now favour professionals who combine multiple complementary skills rather than narrow specialists.
She said candidates gaining traction “aren’t just specialists, they’re skill stackers” who can work with AI tools, interpret data, improve workflows, and collaborate across teams — a combination that signals adaptability in a fast-changing labour market.
Five cross-industry skill stacks driving demand
Beyond marketing, LinkedIn identified five fast-growing skill clusters across industries:
- AI & Automation
- Data & Analytics
- IT & Cybersecurity
- Business & Growth
- People & Leadership
The platform said professionals who can integrate AI into workflows, translate data into decisions, and manage cross-functional execution are seeing stronger demand across sectors.
Recruiters shift to skills-first hiring
LinkedIn data indicates a structural shift toward skills-based hiring. Globally, 46% of recruiters now rely on skills data to fill roles, while 74% of recruiters in India report that finding qualified talent is harder than ever.
As AI becomes embedded across functions, technical proficiency alone is no longer sufficient. The company noted that collaboration, stakeholder management, and project leadership are emerging as differentiators that convert technical knowledge into business impact.
Marketing roles increasingly hybrid and AI-enabled
The Skills on the Rise 2026 findings suggest marketing roles are becoming hybrid positions blending technology, analytics, creativity, and business strategy.
AI fluency — particularly prompt engineering and LLM optimisation — is moving into core marketing workflows, while visual storytelling and data-driven decision-making reflect growing expectations for measurable performance and persuasive communication across channels.
Free learning access to accelerate upskilling
To support capability building, LinkedIn has made select LinkedIn Learning courses free until March 31, 2026, covering topics such as AI agents for professionals, data analytics, and stakeholder management.
The Skills on the Rise methodology analysed year-over-year growth in both skill acquisition and hiring success on LinkedIn between December 2024–November 2025 and the previous year, identifying the fastest-growing capabilities across India’s workforce.
Overall, the 2026 list underscores a structural shift in Indian marketing careers: success increasingly depends on combining AI literacy, creative communication, data interpretation, and collaborative execution into a differentiated skills stack.
