HC Talent Intelligence: Tomorrow's Traders in Commodity Markets

Each month, HC Group's Talent Intelligence Team will bring you an expert view of the human capital landscape in commodity trading. Drawing on HC Group's unique position as global search specialists in energy and commodities markets, we will decode the trends that are shaping talent strategies across the industry.

In this edition, Josh Perrin dives into the evolving commodity trading landscape, where traditional skills are now complemented by technical expertise like Python, data analytics, and risk management.

1. Growth meets Scarcity

Our analysis of the commodity trading landscape reveals a mismatch between the most prevalent skills and those experiencing the fastest growth. Traditional trading competencies remain widely available, yet are growing at a modest pace of 10-15%, whilst more specialised capabilities in data analytics, financial instruments and technological domains are surging ahead (chart 1).

This divergence points to an inevitable talent squeeze. As organisations rapidly shift towards requiring expertise in areas such as Base Metals, Upstream Oil and Gas, Renewable Energy and data automation (VBA), they're competing for professionals with skills that aren't yet widely represented in the industry workforce.

2. A Tale of Transition

Using data from LinkedIn Talent Insights covering the 100 fastest growing skills in commodity trading, HC Talent Intelligence has uncovered 3 key themes driving the evolution of the industry:

1. Energy Transition: Skills supporting the shift towards renewable resources and sustainable practices.
2. Supply Chain Optimisation: Capabilities focused on maximising efficiency and margins throughout the value chain.
3. Technical Force Multipliers: Analytics and data-driven competencies that serve as 'force multipliers' across both domains.

This overlap of technical skills (chart 2) represents the most strategically valuable competencies in today's commodity trading environment. Professionals who can apply analytical expertise to both energy transition challenges and supply chain opportunities are best positioned for future opportunities.

3. Tomorrow's Traders

Despite these shifting dynamics, the commodity trading industry of 2025 will require a fundamentally different type of trader. Our analysis suggests successful professionals will need to seamlessly integrate commercial insight with technological proficiency and sustainability awareness (chart 3).

Against the backdrop of the Great Retirement, organisations are responding by developing talent in-house, focusing investments on the next generation of employees with training in:

• Python and quantitative analysis capabilities
• Renewable energy market expertise
• Multi-dimensional risk management frameworks
• Cross-functional understanding of physical and financial markets
• Technical analysis capabilities

The implications for both individuals and organisations are significant. Traders who proactively develop expertise in high-growth areas will command premium compensation, while companies must rethink their talent pipelines to address looming skills shortages. Forward-thinking organisations are already implementing hybrid approaches—combining targeted recruitment with comprehensive development programmes that transform traditional traders into data-fluent market specialists.

The continued evolution of energy markets suggests these trends will only accelerate further. Success in this environment requires embracing continuous learning while maintaining the commercial acumen that has always distinguished exceptional traders in this dynamic industry.