LinkedIn report: AI boosts confidence of Indian job seekers amid rising competition

New Delhi: More than 90 per cent of professionals in India plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in their job search in 2026, according to a report released on Thursday by LinkedIn.

The LinkedIn India Jobs on the Rise 2026 report shows that AI has evolved from a simple productivity aid to a confidence-building tool for job seekers, with 66 per cent of respondents saying AI improves their confidence during interviews.

Despite growing adoption, many Indian professionals feel unprepared for the evolving job market. While 72 per cent are actively seeking a new role in 2026, 84 per cent feel underprepared due to rapidly shifting skill requirements, highly competitive hiring, and selective recruitment processes.

The report also found that 87 per cent of professionals are comfortable using AI at work, but uncertainty remains about how AI is applied in hiring. 77 per cent of respondents believe the recruitment process has too many stages, while 66 per cent describe it as increasingly impersonal.

“AI is now a foundational part of how careers are built and how talent is evaluated across India’s job market. What professionals need most is a clear understanding of how their skills translate into opportunity and how hiring decisions are actually made,” said Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn Career Expert and Senior Managing Editor, LinkedIn India News.

The report highlights the intensifying competition in India’s job market. LinkedIn data shows that applicants per open role have more than doubled since early 2022, while 74 per cent of recruiters report increasing difficulty in finding qualified talent.

Generational shifts are also evident: 32 per cent of Gen X job seekers are exploring new functions or roles, while 32 per cent of Gen Z are considering careers outside their current industry.

The report identified the fastest-growing roles for 2026 in India as Prompt Engineer, AI Engineer, and Software Engineer, alongside strong demand in sales, brand strategy, cybersecurity, and advisory functions.

IANS