What career is most in demand? Top jobs right now (and how to get there)
Oct, 29 2025
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Ready Score: 0/10Let’s cut through the noise: there’s no single "most in demand" career that works for everyone. But if you’re looking at real hiring data, salary trends, and industry projections for 2025, one thing is clear-AI and data-driven roles are pulling away from the pack. Not because they’re flashy, but because businesses can’t run without them anymore.
What’s actually hiring right now?
In 2025, the top three careers with the biggest gaps between job openings and qualified applicants are:
- AI/ML Engineers
- Cybersecurity Analysts
- Health Data Specialists
These aren’t just tech roles. They’re problem-solving jobs that sit at the intersection of technology, business, and human needs. For example, AI engineers don’t just code-they train models that help hospitals predict patient readmissions or help retailers reduce food waste. Cybersecurity analysts don’t just block hackers-they protect everything from power grids to your child’s school records.
According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, AI-related job postings grew by 147% between 2022 and 2024. Cybersecurity roles jumped 92%. And healthcare data positions? They’re up 131%-mostly because of new digital health records systems and AI-assisted diagnostics.
Why online courses are the fastest path
You don’t need a four-year degree to break into these fields anymore. That’s the game-changer.
Companies like Amazon, NHS Digital, and BT now accept certifications from platforms like Coursera, Udacity, and FutureLearn as valid proof of skill. Why? Because they’ve tested it. They hired people with online certs, tracked their performance, and found they performed just as well-or better-than some degree-holders.
Take AI engineering. A typical university program takes 3-4 years and costs £20,000+. An online bootcamp like DeepLearning.AI’s TensorFlow Developer Certificate? It takes 6 months. Costs under £500. And you build real projects-like a model that predicts energy usage in apartment buildings-before you even apply for a job.
Same with cybersecurity. The CompTIA Security+ certification, which you can earn through online prep courses, is now a baseline requirement for NHS IT roles. You don’t need to be a math genius. You need to know how to spot phishing emails, configure firewalls, and respond to breaches. Those skills? They’re taught in 10-15 hours of focused video lessons.
Real people, real results
In Edinburgh, a 32-year-old former retail manager named Sarah switched to cybersecurity in 14 months. She started with a free Intro to Cybersecurity course on FutureLearn. Then she did a £300 penetration testing lab on TryHackMe. Within a year, she was hired as a Junior Security Analyst at a fintech startup. Her salary went from £22,000 to £41,000.
Another example: James, a 28-year-old barista in Glasgow. He took Google’s Data Analytics Professional Certificate over weekends. He built a dashboard tracking local café sales trends. He posted it on LinkedIn. A health tech company saw it, liked how he visualized patient wait times, and hired him as a Health Data Analyst. No degree. Just a portfolio.
These aren’t outliers. They’re the new normal.
What you actually need to learn
Forget memorizing jargon. Here’s what matters:
- For AI/ML roles: Python, basic statistics, how to clean data, using TensorFlow or PyTorch. You don’t need to build a GPT model from scratch-you need to know how to fine-tune one for a specific task.
- For cybersecurity: Network basics, risk assessment, SIEM tools, incident response workflows. Learn how to use free tools like Wireshark and Nmap. Practice on virtual labs.
- For health data: SQL, Excel for healthcare metrics, HIPAA/GDPR basics, how to interpret clinical datasets. You don’t need to be a nurse-you need to speak both data and care.
Start with one skill. Not five. Pick the one that matches your background. If you’ve worked in customer service? You already understand user behavior-perfect for AI training data. If you’ve managed schedules or inventory? You’ve done data organization-great for health analytics.
Where to start (no fluff, just real platforms)
Here’s what actually works in 2025:
- For AI: DeepLearning.AI (Coursera), Google’s Machine Learning Crash Course (free), NVIDIA DLI (hands-on labs)
- For cybersecurity: TryHackMe (gamified learning), Cybrary (free tier), CompTIA Security+ Prep (Udemy)
- For health data: FutureLearn’s "Data for Health" (University of Edinburgh), Google Data Analytics Certificate, Kaggle micro-courses
Don’t sign up for 10 courses. Pick one. Finish it. Build one project. Then move to the next.
What’s NOT worth your time
Stop wasting money on:
- "Become a Data Scientist in 30 Days"-that’s marketing, not training
- Expensive bootcamps that don’t show job placement rates
- Certifications that aren’t recognized by employers in the UK
If a course doesn’t let you download your code, show your dashboard, or share your final project-it’s not worth it. Employers care about what you can do, not what certificate you hold.
What’s next after you learn?
Once you’ve got a skill and a project:
- Post it on GitHub or LinkedIn. Add a short video explaining what it does.
- Apply to entry-level roles: "Junior Data Analyst," "Security Operations Intern," "AI Trainee".
- Use LinkedIn filters: set location to "United Kingdom," job function to "Information Technology," experience level to "Entry Level".
- Reach out to people in those roles. Ask: "What’s one thing I should focus on?" Most will reply.
You’re not competing with PhDs. You’re competing with people who haven’t started yet.
Is this for you?
If you’re tired of feeling stuck, if you want to earn more, if you’re ready to learn by doing-not just watching-then yes, this is for you.
These roles aren’t about being the smartest person in the room. They’re about being the one who shows up, learns consistently, and builds something real. You don’t need permission. You don’t need a fancy degree. You just need to start.
Can I get a high-demand job without a degree?
Yes. Many employers in the UK now prioritize skills over degrees, especially in tech and data fields. Certifications from Coursera, Udacity, and FutureLearn are accepted by companies like NHS Digital, BT, and Barclays. What matters is your portfolio: projects you’ve built, problems you’ve solved, and evidence you can do the work.
How long does it take to switch careers online?
Most people land their first role in 6 to 12 months. It depends on how much time you can commit. If you study 10-15 hours a week, you can go from zero to job-ready in about 8 months. The key is consistency-not speed. Finish one course, build one project, apply to one job. Repeat.
Are these jobs really that well-paid?
Yes. Entry-level AI roles in the UK pay between £38,000 and £52,000. Cybersecurity analysts start at £35,000-£45,000. Health data specialists earn £32,000-£48,000. These are 50-100% higher than average entry-level salaries in retail, hospitality, or admin. And they’re growing fast.
Do I need to be good at math?
Not like you think. You don’t need calculus or advanced statistics. Basic arithmetic, understanding percentages, and knowing how to interpret graphs is enough for entry-level roles. Tools like Python libraries handle the heavy math for you. Focus on learning how to use them-not how they work under the hood.
What if I’m over 40 or changing careers later in life?
Age doesn’t matter. Many people in these fields are career changers in their 40s and 50s. Employers value experience in communication, problem-solving, and managing deadlines-all things you’ve already learned in other jobs. Your life experience makes you a stronger candidate, not weaker.
If you’re reading this, you’re already ahead of 90% of people who just wonder "what should I do?" The next step isn’t more research. It’s picking one course. Starting today.