In today's rapidly evolving job market, artificial intelligence continues to dominate hiring trends, while shifts toward self-employment, infrastructure support, and specialized services create new opportunities. LinkedIn's annual **Jobs on the Rise** report, released in early January 2026, ranks the 25 fastest-growing roles in the United States based on hiring data from the past three years (approximately January 2023 to mid-2025). Compiled by LinkedIn data scientists in partnership with editors, the list highlights where demand is surging amid economic uncertainty, AI integration, and changing workforce preferences.
More than half of professionals (56%) plan to job hunt in 2026, yet 76% feel unprepared, according to LinkedIn research. This report serves as a guide to emerging opportunities, emphasizing roles in **AI** (both technical and strategic), entrepreneurial paths like founders and independent consultants, and sectors such as real estate, healthcare, and data infrastructure.
Key trends include:
- **AI's dominance** — Four of the top five roles are AI-related, signaling a move from experimentation to widespread implementation.
- Growth in **self-directed careers** — Roles like founders and strategic advisors reflect professionals seeking independence amid flux.
- Broader industry spread — Opportunities extend beyond tech to real estate, healthcare reimbursement, sales, and more.
Here are the **25 fastest-growing roles** for 2026, along with key details on what they involve, top skills, industries, hiring hotspots, and other insights:
1. **AI Engineers** (also known as Machine Learning Engineers)
Develop and implement AI models for complex tasks like problem-solving and prediction.
Top skills: LangChain, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), PyTorch.
Top industries: Technology & Internet, IT Services, Business Consulting.
Hiring hotspots: San Francisco, New York City, Dallas.
2. **AI Consultants and Strategists**
Help organizations plan and deploy AI to achieve business goals.
Top skills: Large Language Models (LLM), MLOps, Computer Vision.
Top industries: Technology & Internet, IT Services, Business Consulting.
Hiring hotspots: San Francisco, New York City, Boston.
3. **New Home Sales Specialists** (New Home Sales Consultants)
Guide buyers through purchasing newly built homes.
Top skills: Residential Real Estate, Real Estate Transactions, Buyer Representation.
Top industries: Real Estate, Building Construction.
Hiring hotspots: Houston, Dallas, Orlando.
4. **Data Annotators** (Content Analysts)
Label and review data to train AI/ML models, often project-based.
Top skills: SEO Copywriting, Content Marketing, Content Production.
Top industries: Technology & Internet, Staffing, Higher Education.
Hiring hotspots: Austin, New York City, San Francisco.
5. **AI/Machine Learning Researchers**
Design, test, and improve AI models and algorithms.
Top skills: PyTorch, Deep Learning, Computer Vision.
Top industries: Technology & Internet, Higher Education, Research.
Hiring hotspots: San Francisco, New York City, Boston.
6. **Healthcare Reimbursement Specialists**
Manage billing, claims, and payments for healthcare services.
Top skills: Medicare/Medicaid Reimbursement, Prior Authorization.
Top industries: Chemical Manufacturing, Research, IT Services.
Hiring hotspots: New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles.
7. **Strategic Advisors and Independent Consultants**
Provide specialized expertise to solve complex organizational problems.
Top skills: Executive Advisory, Go-to-Market Strategy.
Top industries: Technology & Internet, Business Consulting, IT Services.
Hiring hotspots: New York City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C.
8. **Advertising Sales Specialists**
Sell ad space across media channels.
Top skills: Media Planning, Social Media Optimization, Paid Social.
Top industries: Media, Advertising, Technology.
Hiring hotspots: New York City, Detroit, Atlanta.
9. **Founders**
Launch and lead new businesses from idea to execution.
Top skills: Start-up Leadership, Brand Development.
Top industries: Technology & Internet, Business Consulting.
Hiring hotspots: New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles.
10. **Sales Executives**
Lead sales strategies, teams, and revenue growth.
Top skills: C-Level Management, Sales Strategy.
Top industries: Technology & Internet, Business Consulting.
Hiring hotspots: Los Angeles, New York City, Dallas.
11. **Commissioning Managers**
Oversee testing and validation of engineering/construction projects (e.g., data centers).
Top skills: Electrical Testing, Equipment Testing.
Top industries: Engineering, IT Services, Machinery.
Hiring hotspots: Houston, Washington, D.C., Dallas.
12. **Venture Partners**
Source investments and provide strategic guidance in venture capital.
Top skills: Early Stage Investment, Deal Sourcing.
Top industries: Capital Markets, Technology.
Hiring hotspots: San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles.
13. **Field Marketing Representatives**
Promote products/services in-person to generate leads.
Top skills: Market Planning, Market Analysis.
Top industries: Renewable Energy, Food & Beverage.
Hiring hotspots: New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles.
14. **Fundraising Officers** (Development Managers)
Secure financial support for organizations or nonprofits.
Top skills: Major Gift Development, Donor Engagement.
Top industries: Non-profits, Higher Education.
Hiring hotspots: New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C.
15. **Background Investigators**
Verify information for employment/security compliance.
Top skills: Background Checks, Private Investigations.
Top industries: IT Services, Security.
Hiring hotspots: Washington, D.C., Miami, Boston.
16. **Business Development Executives**
Identify growth opportunities and build partnerships.
Top skills: Sales Management, CRM.
Top industries: Non-profits, Technology, Research.
Hiring hotspots: New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco.
17. **Datacenter Technicians**
Install, maintain, and troubleshoot data center hardware.
Top skills: Data Center Operations, Cabling.
Top industries: IT Services, Technology.
Hiring hotspots: Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Columbus.
18. **Travel Advisors** (Travel Agents)
Plan and book personalized travel for clients.
Top skills: Travel Planning, Travel Management.
Top industries: Travel Arrangements, Hospitality.
Hiring hotspots: New York City, Miami, Los Angeles.
19. **Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners**
Assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions.
Top skills: Psychiatric Care, Medication Management.
Top industries: Medical Practices, Behavioral Health.
Hiring hotspots: New York City, Los Angeles, Boston.
(The full list continues beyond the top 19 in the original report, including roles like Financial Advisors and others up to 25, but these represent the leading surge areas.)
This ranking underscores AI's transformation of the workforce—not just replacing jobs, but creating demand for new expertise in building, applying, and supporting it. At the same time, growth in human-centered and entrepreneurial roles shows resilience and adaptation.
Professionals looking to pivot can explore related LinkedIn Learning courses (often free for members during promotional periods) or search open positions directly on the platform. As the job market evolves, staying agile and skill-focused will be key to capitalizing on these trends in 2026 and beyond.
AI engineers snagged the top spot on seven out of 10 Jobs on the Rise city lists — surfacing the fastest-growing jobs in 10 metropolitan areas across the U.S. The data-backed rankings highlight where local opportunity exists and signal where each city’s workforce is headed, from real estate jobs popping up in Dallas (new-home sales specialists, real estate brokers), to entrepreneurial career paths in Los Angeles (venture partners, strategic advisors), and AI roles in New York City (AI engineers, AI consultants and strategists, AI/ML researchers).
Are we getting smarter about where remote work actually works?
And where getting people in an office actually matters?
The latest data suggests yes on both.
It shows up clearly in LinkedIn’s new JobsOnTheRise lists – one for the U.S. overall, and its newest report focusing on Los Angeles.
Compared to the U.S. overall, L.A. consistently shows:
✔️ Lower fully remote availability
✔️ Higher hybrid expectations
Examples:
AI Engineers
👉 U.S.: ~26% remote
👉 LA: ~15% remote
Strategic Advisors
👉 U.S.: ~15% remote
👉 LA: ~2% remote
Here’s my take on why: employers are getting more discriminating about when environment actually matters to doing the best work.
We’re getting clearer about the difference between:
▫️ Work that’s modular, well-spec’d, and async-friendly
vs.
▫️ Work that’s ambiguous, influence-heavy, and coordination-intensive
In dense markets like L.A. - where enough of the right people can realistically meet in person - employers are leaning into that distinction.
Remote still works.
But it works best when the work itself is designed for it.
In your org, is hybrid about coordination and the work itself —
or is it still management’s way of saying they simply don’t trust people working from home?
The real signal isn’t just the rapid growth. What I’m seeing is the expansion of the broader AI ecosystem required to support it. Yes, we’re seeing increased demand for AI Engineers, Strategists, and ML Researchers but AI doesn’t succeed in isolation. It requires a strong foundation to operate at scale.
That foundation includes CISOs safeguarding data integrity and trust, data management specialists operationalizing intelligence, and engineers bridging the gap between digital insight and real-world application.
The opportunity isn’t simply hiring AI talent it’s building the infrastructure, governance, and operating model that turns AI into measurable business outcomes.