Artificial intelligence engineers have emerged as the fastest-growing profession in the United States, according to LinkedIn’s annual Jobs on the Rise list, which tracks employment trends over the past three years. The findings reveal that AI is not only driving stock market gains but also creating substantial demand across multiple sectors of the labor market.
The report highlights that AI-related roles dominate the top positions on the list. AI consultants and strategists claimed the second spot, while data annotators—professionals who train and refine AI systems—ranked fourth. AI and machine learning researchers secured the fifth position, demonstrating the breadth of opportunities within the AI ecosystem.
A particularly noteworthy finding is that not all AI roles require purely technical expertise. Laura Lorenzetti, a senior director at LinkedIn who worked on the list, explained that integrating AI into workplaces requires professionals skilled in implementation, culture change, and adoption strategies. “There is also this whole adjacent system of how you implement AI; how you do culture change around AI; how you get people to really adapt and use it,” she told Business Insider.
The job market landscape presents mixed signals for workers. While AI creates new opportunities, the overall hiring environment remains challenging. LinkedIn data shows that applications per open role have more than doubled since spring 2022, while hiring sits 23% below pre-pandemic levels as of November 2025. In a November survey, 56% of workers indicated plans to search for new jobs in 2026, though three-quarters felt unprepared for the hunt.
The difficulty in securing traditional employment has prompted a shift in strategy. Nearly half of job seekers (46%) have pivoted from pursuing full-time positions to freelance, contract, or consulting work. This trend is particularly pronounced among Gen Z workers, with nearly one in five professionals who couldn’t find new jobs in 2025 turning to freelance work or entrepreneurship. The title “founder” appeared on the fastest-growing jobs list for the first time, ranking ninth, while the share of US LinkedIn users adding “founder” to their profiles jumped 69% year-over-year.
Beyond AI, other growing roles include new home sales specialists (third), healthcare reimbursement specialists (sixth), and various positions in sales, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors.
Key Quotes
There is also this whole adjacent system of how you implement AI; how you do culture change around AI; how you get people to really adapt and use it.
Laura Lorenzetti, senior director at LinkedIn, explained why AI consultant and strategist roles are growing rapidly. This quote emphasizes that AI integration requires more than technical skills—it demands expertise in organizational change management and human adoption.
People are seeing that as a way to own their career and own their next step.
Lorenzetti commented on the surge in entrepreneurship and the appearance of ‘founder’ on the fastest-growing jobs list. This reflects how workers are responding to challenging hiring conditions by creating their own opportunities rather than waiting for traditional employment.
Our Take
The LinkedIn data reveals a paradox in today’s job market: AI is simultaneously creating opportunity and intensifying competition. While AI engineering roles proliferate, the doubling of applications per position suggests that supply hasn’t caught up with the hype around AI careers. The rise of non-technical AI roles is encouraging, democratizing access to this growing field beyond computer science graduates. However, the 23% decline in hiring compared to pre-pandemic levels, combined with Big Tech layoffs, paints a sobering picture. The entrepreneurship surge—particularly the 69% increase in ‘founder’ titles—may reflect genuine innovation, but it also suggests desperation as workers create their own opportunities when traditional paths close. For job seekers, the message is clear: AI skills are essential, but so is adaptability. The future workforce will likely be more fluid, with professionals moving between traditional employment, consulting, and entrepreneurship as circumstances demand.
Why This Matters
This report signals a fundamental transformation in the American workforce driven by artificial intelligence. The dominance of AI-related roles at the top of LinkedIn’s fastest-growing jobs list confirms that AI isn’t just a technological trend—it’s reshaping career paths and creating entirely new professional categories.
The emergence of non-technical AI roles like consultants and strategists is particularly significant. It suggests that successful AI adoption requires more than engineering talent; organizations need professionals who can bridge the gap between technology and human implementation. This creates opportunities for workers from diverse backgrounds to enter the AI field without traditional computer science credentials.
However, the data also reveals concerning challenges. With applications per role doubling and hiring remaining well below pre-pandemic levels, competition for positions has intensified dramatically. The shift toward freelancing and entrepreneurship—especially the 69% surge in “founder” titles—may indicate that workers are creating their own opportunities when traditional employment proves elusive. For businesses, this underscores the urgency of developing AI strategies not just for technology implementation, but for workforce development and talent retention in an increasingly competitive landscape.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/fastest-growing-jobs-in-the-us-linkedin-2026-1