New figures from HR technology company TestGorilla show significant changes in the types of skills employers are prioritising for recruitment in 2025. Data based on 3.9 million skills tests taken by job candidates reveals a clear surge worldwide in demand for technical and analytical skills, with the UK market exhibiting distinct preferences focused on operational and digital abilities.
AI assessment growth
Artificial Intelligence testing is the fastest-growing skills assessment globally. The number of AI skills tests completed by candidates increased by 166% over the previous year. Coding Debugging assessments rose by 133%, followed by Computer Litreacy tests at 77% and assessments on Data Structures - Arrays at 73%. Financial Modelling in Excel also featured strongly, with a 69% increase.
These results indicate that employers are increasing their scrutiny of AI fluency and coding competence. This trend corresponds with broader moves in corporate hiring to match evolving workplace technologies. Reports show that many candidates are still not questioned about AI knowledge in interviews, a gap being addressed by the rising use of skills tests.
UK-specific trends
In the UK, the growth in skills tests follows different patterns. The sharpest rise was seen in Market Analysis assessments, up by 198% year-on-year. Technical Support Help Desk Representative tests increased by 188%. Typing Speed (Lowercase Only) was up 164%, WordPress Administration 118%, and Project Management skills tests grew by 85%.
The rise in these categories points to a UK hiring environment focused on data-driven decision-making, digital capability, and operational delivery. It also signals that businesses are investing more heavily in practical and platform-based technical skills.
Sustained demand for soft skills
Despite rapid technological changes, soft skills remain central in recruitment testing. In the UK, the most popular skills test remains Attention to Detail (Textual), with Communication and Problem Solving following closely. Critical Thinking and the Big 5 (OCEAN) personality test also remain among the top five most-used assessments in UK hiring processes.
Globally, the Big 5 (OCEAN) personality test is the most widely used. Attention to Detail, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Problem Solving tests continue to be deployed in large numbers, indicating that employers are not just looking for technical capability but also cognitive ability and interpersonal aptitude.
Changing assessment methods
Employers are increasingly turning to skills tests over traditional CV and interview-based recruitment. This approach is intended to provide a more objective measure of ability and potential for on-the-job success, as skills demands evolve in response to technological change and the increased use of AI at work.
"This data shows that the global skills landscape is evolving fast, and employers are waking up to the reality that CVs and interviews alone can't reveal true capability. As our 2025 State of Skills-Based Hiring report found, 71% of employers say skills testing is more predictive of on-the-job success than resumes. This difference is only going to increase as AI reshapes the world of work and the demand for precise tools to measure candidate proficiency grows. Organisations are increasingly looking towards skills tests as the most objective and fair way to assess technical proficiency and capacity to work alongside AI effectively," said Wouter Durville, CEO and founder, TestGorilla.
"Most leadership teams right now are thinking about how to build an AI-first company, and, as a result, every modern recruiter is thinking about AI-first hiring. In other words, how to hire people who can excel in an AI-driven world. Skills tests that are designed to objectively measure technical ability and critical thinking, especially those with robust anti-cheating measures built in, are crucial for recruiters to have available as they build their AI-first teams," said Olive Turon, Head of People and Culture, TestGorilla.
