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Skill Demand Index

U.S. person — Demand & Depth Analysis

Based on 3 scored job postings out of 4,995 total. Depth levels reflect actual proficiency tiers, not just keyword presence.

0.1%

Demand Rate

L5

Median Depth

33%

Gap Rate

3

Jobs Analyzed

L567% of postings

Expert

Most employers want U.S. person at architect level, not just familiarity.

Overview

What is U.S. person?

Market context for U.S. person in the current job market

U.S. person is required in 0.1% of scored job postings on ShouldApply, making it a growing skill in the current job market. Employers looking for U.S. person typically want candidates who can demonstrate real proficiency, not just surface awareness.

What the data shows for U.S. person:

  • •Required in 0.1% of all scored postings — demand is growing as more employers add it to requirements
  • •Employers typically expect L5 depth — architect-level, not just familiarity
  • •Most demand comes from Software Engineering roles — 100% of all U.S. person jobs

What L5 means in practice:

L5 (Expert) means the employer expects someone who can architect systems around U.S. person, mentor teams, and make strategic decisions. This goes well beyond "I’ve used it before."

This means employers aren't looking for someone who has used U.S. person once or twice. They want evidence of professional application — shipped work, measurable outcomes, and the ability to operate independently.

Common skill gaps:

The gap rate of 33% means a notable portion of candidates fall short on U.S. person. Addressing this gap directly in your application materials gives you an edge.

Which roles need U.S. person most:

Software Engineering positions drive 100% of demand. Skills commonly paired with U.S. person include Modern Backend Language and Backend Fundamentals.

Depth Level Distribution

Proficiency Distribution

How candidates match U.S. person requirements across 3 scored evaluations

L0 — Missing
33% (1)
L1 — Minimal
0% (0)
L2 — Basic
0% (0)
L3 — Proficient
0% (0)
L4 — Advanced
0% (0)
L5 — Expert
67% (2)
DOMINANT

Average depth: L3.3·Median depth: L5.0

Salary Correlation

Pay Impact

How U.S. person affects compensation based on postings with disclosed salary data

Without U.S. person

$140K

Median $133K

1235 jobs

Skill Demand Insight

“U.S. person appears in 0.1% of all scored jobs.”

From 3 scored job postings

Skill Pairings

Commonly Paired Skills

Other skills that frequently appear alongside U.S. person

Role Breakdown

Top Role Categories

Job categories most likely to require U.S. person

Gap Analysis

Gap Rate Explained

How often U.S. person is identified as a skill gap (L0–L1) in scored applications

33%

Moderate gap rate — many candidates lack this skill

When U.S. person appears in a job's requirements, 33% of scored applicants received an L0 or L1 (missing or minimal).

A high gap rate signals strong hiring leverage for candidates who have it. A low gap rate means the skill is table stakes: not having it is a disqualifier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is U.S. person in demand in 2026?

Yes. U.S. person appears in 0.1% of scored job postings on ShouldApply, making it a growing skill in the current market. Based on 3 analyzed jobs, demand is steady across multiple role types.

What level of U.S. person do most jobs require?

The median required depth is L5. Most employers want advanced proficiency — candidates who can lead projects and optimize processes.

Does knowing U.S. person increase salary?

Salary data for U.S. person is still accumulating.

What other skills pair with U.S. person?

The most common pairings are Modern Backend Language, Backend Fundamentals, Data Modeling, API Design, Distributed Systems, Backend Software Engineering, TypeScript/Node.js, GraphQL, Prisma. Strengthening these alongside U.S. person improves your fit across more positions.

What roles need U.S. person the most?

Top roles: Software Engineering. Software Engineering positions have the highest demand at 100% of all U.S. person jobs.

How do I improve my U.S. person level?

L1→L2: online courses and personal projects. L2→L3: daily professional use and shipped work. L3→L4: mentoring others and optimizing processes. L4→L5: architecture decisions, open source contributions, or published work.

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