Top 10 Skills For Remote Jobs Hiring In 2024, From Research

Approximately 75% of professionals would take up the offer to use a work-from-anywhere, remote working policy at work, even if it indicated taking a pay cut (50%), upping working hours (20%), or reducing PTO (15%), according to a recent FlexJobs survey for their Work From Anywhere report.

The study, which surveyed more than 4,000 workers from across the United States, noted that Millennials are the working generation that would be most likely to sacrifice workplace benefits for location independence.

But to be able to make the case for remote work to your employer, or even to secure a remote role at a remote-first or flexible working company, you need to be able to demonstrate that you have the necessary skills.

Some skill sets are more in-demand within the world of remote work and digital nomadism than others. For example, according to FlexJobs 2024 Digital Nomad Guide to Work-From-Anywhere Careers, the following jobs were highlighted as being the most in demand by employers, for those seeking remote jobs:

1. Account executive
2. Content writer
3. Data analyst
4. DevOps engineer
5. Editor
6. Engineering manager
7. Marketing manager
8. Product designer
9. Product manager
10. Software engineer

Based on this analysis, here is a breakdown of the most desired technical and soft skills needed by employers for these in-demand roles:

1. Relationship-Building

Relationships are at the heart of everything we do at work. But perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in roles which require you to collaborate with stakeholders, make complex negotiations and agreements, or conduct sales. Much of what we do in remote work—and the success of our projects—revolves around the quality of the relationships and understanding we build with colleagues, our boss, clients, employees, and partners.

To demonstrate your relationship and rapport-building skills to your employer, think about using specific examples of where your relationship-building has paid off, such as the role you played in partnerships, managing stakeholders, or in handling complex contracts and enterprise sales. Consider using strong action-oriented verbiage such as:

• Cultivated
• Hosted
• Client retention rate
• Customer success
• Customer experience
• Customer satisfaction score
• Collaborated

2. Communication Skills

To be effective at relationship-building at work, you need to be an effective communicator. Out of the roles listed above, you might naturally think of account executive, content writer, and editor, as being the remote jobs in which exceptional written and oral communication skills are more integral to success.

But the other roles, such as software engineer, data analyst, and marketing manager are also communication-heavy, as you will regularly need to be able to translate complex technical ideas and business requirements into a product that can be used and understood by others. Your daily work is concentrated on interpreting information and relaying it to others in some format. Therefore, even in tech-heavy roles, soft skills such as communication have their place.

3. Analytical Skills

Analytical skills are mission-critical for analyzing data, solving complex business problems, and making well-informed decisions. Some of the jobs that would require high proficiency in this skill more than others include data analyst, DevOps engineer, product manager, and software engineering roles.

4. Project Management

Project management is a career and job on its own, but it’s also a high-value skill in the workforce, which professionals who work in management, leadership, or even marketing and editing, would need to carry out their roles successfully and ensure well-organized collaboration on projects.

5. Technical Proficiency

Every industry and every remote occupation has its own set of standard software and technology requirements, which are integral to supporting the role in being more efficient. Think about tech stacks, CRMs, unique software needed for project management or engineering work, etc. Ensure you have a thorough understanding of what software is used in your industry and for your specific role.

This is especially essential when working from home, as you will need to be confident in using remote collaboration tools.

6. Adaptability

One of the core attributes employers look out for in potential hires is adaptability. It’s essential to have a flexible, positive attitude to change, whether in your industry or in your workplace, as things are moving at a very fast pace. Adaptability is a skill that is sometimes needed more in roles such as product management and marketing, than others.

It also is listed in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs skills report for 2023 as a skill on the rise over the next few years.

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7. Leadership Skills

You don’t need to work in leadership or management to need leadership skills. Leadership skills rank highly on employers’ priorities this year as they indicate that you take ownership and responsibility for your work, and have high levels of emotional intelligence. This makes for a more cohesive remote work environment.

8. Collaboration

Along the same lines as relationship-building, collaboration is another skill that is used frequently in the top 10 remote jobs listed by FlexJobs. Knowing how to pull the best outcomes out of individuals, and even work together cross-functionally, especially while doing so remotely, is a major bonus for employers.

9. Customer-Centric Mindset

One common theme of the top 10 remote jobs listed is that many of them share the skill of being customer-focused. For instance, product designers and product managers must concentrate on designing products that anticipate and meet customer needs and requirements, and must factor in aesthetics and ease of use.

10. Problem-Solving Skills

Problem-solving falls on no.9 in LinkedIn’s Most In-Demand Skills of 2024 report, which lists the top 10 skills in demand by employers globally, according to analysis of LinkedIn hiring trends and data spanning several months. Taking initiative to come up with creative solutions is much needed in today’s workforce, especially since this is one of the rare skills that AI cannot master—at least not yet.

If you’re looking for a remote job this year, you first need to develop and emphasize these 10 in-demand skills so you can be viewed as more hireable by employers, and have a greater likelihood of being successful in your role.