> At a Glance
> – AI engineer leads LinkedIn’s 2026 fastest-growing jobs list
> – AI consultant/strategist ranks second
> – 56% of Americans plan to job hunt in 2026, matching 2025 levels
> – Why it matters: Job seekers must target growth sectors and market skills, not titles, to land roles in a tighter market
Artificial intelligence dominates the 2026 job market, with AI-related roles claiming the top two spots on LinkedIn’s new Jobs on the Rise list released January 7. The findings arrive as more than half of U.S. professionals eye new opportunities despite fewer openings.
AI Roles Dominate Growth Rankings
LinkedIn’s annual ranking shows AI engineer at number one, followed by AI consultant or strategist in second place. The data signals surging employer demand for talent that can design, deploy and guide artificial-intelligence solutions across industries.
Tighter Market Demands Strategic Pivots
While 56% of Americans expect to search for a new role in 2026-on par with 2025-this year’s crop faces a tighter labor market, according to LinkedIn editor-in-chief and vice president Dan Roth.
Roth told TODAY:
> “They’re concentrated in particular industries. It’s uneven. So if you’re one of those people who’s looking for a new job, it is important to really be armed with information about where there is growth, and then really be prepared to pivot if necessary.”
Skills-First Strategy Beats Traditional Pathways
Roth urges candidates to reframe experience around transferable abilities rather than past titles.
He recommends a three-step approach:
- Catalog your skills objectively
- Map those skills to roles on the Jobs on the Rise list
- Craft a narrative that connects the dots for employers
> “The key is rethinking what you’re doing not as a job, but as a set of skills,” Roth said.
Storytelling Wins Interviews
Once you identify the target position, Roth emphasizes storytelling in résumés, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles.
> “How do my skills relate to the skills that are required to do this job? You put together a new profile, in your cover letter, you explain it really clearly. You’ve got to help employers understand why you can do this job, even if you’ve never done it before.”
Key Takeaways
- AI skills offer the clearest path to growth roles in 2026
- Focus on abilities, not job titles, when switching careers
- Storytelling about skill relevance can overcome lack of direct experience
- Prepare to pivot quickly-opportunities cluster in specific sectors
Position yourself for the fastest-growing jobs by marketing your capabilities, not your history, and target the AI-driven roles leading the pack.
