The Chief People Officer role has officially dropped off LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise list for 2025. Once a high-ranking role during the pandemic, it no longer features in the top 25 fastest-growing jobs in the UK.
So, what’s taken its place? This year’s list reveals a shift in priorities as businesses adapt to a rapidly changing world, putting new skills and roles in the spotlight.
During the pandemic, the CPO role surged in popularity as companies focused on supporting employee wellbeing and managing remote working. In 2023, it ranked 10th on LinkedIn’s list of fastest-growing roles. By 2024, it was 13th. This year, however, it’s fallen off the list entirely.
Maxine Blackwell, people and culture director at Zen Internet, explains that economic uncertainty has made companies more cautious about executive hiring. “We’re seeing traditional C-suite roles with much wider remits than we had previously,” she says.
While demand for standalone CPO roles may have slowed, HR’s influence continues to grow. The rise of emerging priorities, such as new technologies and workforce strategies, is reshaping the way organisations think about people management.
In place of CPOs, LinkedIn’s list for 2025 highlights roles that are addressing today’s most urgent challenges. From technology to sustainability, the fastest-growing jobs reflect the skills businesses need to succeed in the future.
These include:
Engineers and Innovators: Roles like AI Engineer and Data Governance Manager are now critical as businesses embed artificial intelligence into their operations.
Green Skills in Demand: Positions like Energy Manager reflect the urgent need for sustainability expertise, with LinkedIn reporting that the demand for green skills is growing twice as fast as supply.
This shift is a clear signal for HR professionals: helping businesses source and develop talent with these skills will be critical in the years ahead.
Although the CPO role is no longer on the rise, HR remains at the heart of preparing organisations for the future. With nearly half of UK HR professionals reporting that their company lacks a clear view of future skills needs, the role of people teams is more important than ever.
Key areas where HR will make an impact include:
Upskilling Talent: As emerging roles dominate the job market, HR must identify and address skills gaps within their organisations.
Embedding AI and Sustainability: HR will be instrumental in ensuring these priorities become part of everyday business practices.
Future-Proofing Workforces: From redesigning job roles to fostering human-AI collaboration, HR can help businesses stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.
Janine Chamberlin, head of LinkedIn UK, emphasises this point:
“This shift doesn’t mean that HR roles are becoming less critical. HR is essential in helping professionals identify future opportunities and build the skills they need to stay competitive.”
For organisations, the rise of new roles means it’s time to re-evaluate hiring strategies. Whether you need tech-savvy talent to implement AI or professionals with green skills to meet sustainability goals, securing the right people is key to staying competitive.
For candidates, this is an exciting moment to invest in your skills. From exploring opportunities in tech and sustainability to future-proofing your career, the demand for specialised knowledge is only going to grow.
Ready to build a future-proof team or take the next step in your career? Contact us today and let’s make it happen.