LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2026 Explained: The Roles Hiring and How to Get Shortlisted

Jobs on the Rise 2026 (U.S.): What’s Growing, What’s Not, and How to Compete

‍

Why the job market feels harder than it should

If your applications feel like they are disappearing into a void, the data confirms what many jobseekers are experiencing:

• Hiring has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
• Applicants per open role have increased significantly since 2022.
• Jobseeker confidence remains low, especially among active candidates.

This creates a market where effort alone is not enough. Employers are more selective, screening is faster, and relevance matters more than volume.

What LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2026 is really telling you

This list is not about hype. It highlights where employers are still investing despite uncertainty. Three clear patterns stand out.

1) AI demand goes beyond engineers

AI Engineers lead the list, but roles such as AI Consultants, AI Researchers, and Data Annotators also feature strongly. Employers are hiring people who can build, apply, manage, and translate AI into business outcomes.

If you work in product, operations, analytics, compliance, or strategy, your proximity to AI matters even if you are not writing code.

2) Infrastructure roles are quietly growing

Datacenter Technicians, Commissioning Managers, and Construction Project Leads appear because AI and digital services rely on physical infrastructure.

These roles often attract fewer applicants and reward candidates who position their experience clearly and practically.

3) Revenue and independent paths remain resilient

Sales, marketing, fundraising, and advisory roles continue to grow. Founder and independent consultant titles are also rising as professionals create opportunities rather than wait for certainty.

Employers prioritise candidates who can demonstrate impact, growth, and commercial awareness.

The top 25 fastest-growing roles in the U.S.

1. AI Engineers
2. AI Consultants & Strategists
3. New Home Sales Specialists
4. Data Annotators
5. AI/ML Researchers
6. Healthcare Reimbursement Specialists
7. Strategic Advisors & Independent Consultants
8. Advertising Sales Specialists
9. Founders
10. Sales Executives
11. Commissioning Managers
12. Venture Partners
13. Field Marketing Representatives
14. Fundraising Officers
15. Background Investigators
16. Business Development Executives
17. Datacenter Technicians
18. Travel Advisors
19. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners
20. Quantitative Researchers & Analysts
21. Financial Advisors & Planners
22. Construction Project Leads
23. Legal Researchers
24. Public Affairs Specialists
25. Benefits Advisors

This list reflects U.S. hiring data. Titles vary by country, but the hiring logic behind them is consistent.

Why many jobseekers still struggle in growing roles

Demand alone does not guarantee interviews.

Recruiters do not browse profiles. They search by:

• Job titles and seniority
• Skills, tools, and certifications
• Industry keywords
• Evidence of outcomes and scope

If your CV and LinkedIn profile do not align with how recruiters search and screen, you are filtered out before your experience is reviewed.

This is why qualified candidates feel stuck even in growing job categories.

What to do if you want interviews in 2026

Before applying again, your CV and LinkedIn profile should answer three questions clearly:

1. What role are you targeting right now?
2. What evidence shows you can do this role in the U.S. market?
3. Why should you be shortlisted over similar candidates?

If any of these answers are unclear, your application will struggle in a competitive market.

How CVsAndResumes.com helps you get hired

At cvsandresumes.com, jobseekers use our self-service platform to:

• Build job-winning CVs structured for modern screening
• Align experience to real job descriptions and hiring signals
• Optimise LinkedIn profiles for recruiter search
• Increase interview conversion by focusing on relevance, not volume

For those who want faster clarity, sharper positioning, or are changing markets, 1:1 coaching support is available to remove guesswork and accelerate results.

Coming next: Jobs on the Rise by country

This article focuses on the U.S. market. We are actively updating our blog with country-specific insights for:

Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the UK, and India.

If you are planning to work in the U.S. or move across markets, keep coming back. Understanding where hiring momentum exists is the first step. Positioning yourself correctly is the second.

Ready to update your CV for 2026?
Start here: www.cvsandresumes.com

‍