LinkedIn Talent Research 2026

Source: LinkedIn · 2026-01-07

LinkedIn data shows US applicants per open role have doubled since the spring of 2022.

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of people say finding a job has become more challenging, citing competition as the main hurdle, followed by uncertainty about whether they’re a fit for a role and skills gaps.

Recruiters have fewer open roles to fill and face higher stakes: two-thirds (66%) of recruiters say it’s become harder to find qualified talent over the last year, as they face growing pressure to fill roles faster (42%) and uncover ‘hidden gem’ candidates (39%).

93% of recruiters say they plan to increase their use of AI in 2026, and 59% say it's already helping them discover candidates with skills they wouldn't have found before.

Two-thirds of recruiters (66%) plan to increase their use of AI for pre-screening interviews in 2026, which 70% believe will help them have more valuable conversations with candidates.

81% of people have or say they plan to use AI in their job search and nearly half (48%) say AI tools boost their interview confidence.

With LinkedIn’s AI-powered job search, you don’t have to know the keywords or specific job titles to find the job you want - just search in your own words. Over 1.3M members already use the tool every day, and over 25M weekly searches are powered by the tool. It is now rolling out globally in English, Spanish, French, German and Portuguese.

Small businesses can find and connect with qualified candidates faster using LinkedIn Hiring Pro, an AI agent that helps hirers identify, shortlist, and reach out to the most relevant talent. Nearly 60% of hirers find a candidate to interview within the first week, and those who report time savings see an average of 6+ hours saved weekly. The tool is available globally in English, with new AI features - including AI-powered interviews, an updated conversational interface, and personalized InMails - rolling out over the next few months.

Recruiters can uncover hidden gem candidates and save hours per role with Hiring Assistant, LinkedIn’s AI agent for recruiters. Companies like AMD, Aurecon, Chewy, Expedia Group, Fabletics, Insite, Jacobs, Siemens, Wipro, and more are using it to uncover qualified talent faster. Early adopters are saving 4+ hours per role, reviewing 62% fewer profiles, and seeing a 69% improvement in InMail acceptance rates.