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Exceptional communication skills are key for job seekers and those looking to advance their careers, according to LinkedIn’s annual report on the most in-demand skills in 2024. Customer service is the second most sought-after skill by employers, and leadership ranks third. 

The LinkedIn report is based on data gathered from LinkedIn job postings and member activity, providing a unique and valuable perspective on the job market’s current and future needs.

The report finds that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence stands to make core skills more valuable, not less, for professionals looking to advance their career. 

Business leaders are looking for uniquely human skills to both work with AI — and drive organizational success. 

The report also confirms that strong communication and leadership skills remain extremely valued among employers.

“Even as artificial intelligence transforms the way companies do business and employers hire, communication and leadership remain an integral part of keeping the human connection that enables them to thrive,” says Morag Mathieson, Toastmasters' 2023–24 International President. “Toastmasters offers individuals the ability to develop and enhance these in-demand skills in a cost-effective and supportive environment.”

An effective way of building and enhancing these valuable skills is by joining Toastmasters International, the global nonprofit educational organization devoted to communication and leadership skills development. Toastmasters offers a supportive setting where people can practice and improve these and other soft skills. In addition to public speaking, a typical Toastmasters club meeting gives members an opportunity to engage in active listening, provide and receive constructive feedback, and practice time management.

More than half of all Fortune 500 companies — and 24 of the top 25 — offer in-house Toastmasters clubs, including Adidas, Amazon, Lexmark, Oracle, and Toyota. These employers have found the Toastmasters program to be an effective staff development tool that benefits their organization.