AI Roles Are America’s Fastest-Growing Jobs, and Everyone Is Just Trying to Keep Up

If you’re feeling vaguely behind in your career, you’re not alone and you’re not imagining it. According to LinkedIn’s latest report, Jobs on the Rise, more than half of professionals (56%) say they plan to look for a new job this year, despite 76% admitting they are not prepared.  

The report tracks the fastest-growing jobs in the U.S. over the past three years, and the picture is as clear as it is depressing. If your professional role has anything to do with building, managing, explaining, or cleaning up after AI, you’re in demand. If not, you may want to start paying attention.

AI Dominates the Job Market

You don’t need a degree in statistics to notice the dominance of AI on LinkedIn’s list. AI engineers. AI consultants. AI This. AI That. Roles tied to artificial intelligence have become some of the fastest-growing openings in the U.S. over the past few years.

In the first quarter of 2025 alone, there were more than 35,000 job postings in the U.S. specifically calling for AI-related skills — about a 25% jump from the same period the year before.

25 Fastest-Growing Jobs in the U.S.

According to LinkedIn, these are 25 fastest-growing roles heading into 2026: 

1. AI Engineers: Professionals trained to build and maintain AI models for performing  tasks typically requiring human decision-making, like problem-solving and prediction. 
2. AI Consultants & Strategists: Help companies plan and implement AI tools to streamline tasks and improve performance.
3. New Home Sales Specialists: Guide buyers through the purchasing process for newly constructed homes.
4. Data Annotators: Label and review data using guidelines to make sure it’s accurate enough to train AI and machine-learning systems, often on a project-by-project basis.
5. AI/ML Researchers: Design and test machine-learning models and algorithms to improve how AI systems perform.
6. Healthcare Reimbursement Specialists: Handle billing and insurance claims to make sure healthcare providers get paid correctly.
7. Strategic Advisors & Independent Consultants: Guide organizations to solve complex problems and drive results. 
8. Advertising Sales Specialists Sell advertising space across digital platforms, media networks, and social channels.
9. Founders: Start and run new businesses, often in tech or consulting.
10. Sales Executives:  Lead an organization’s sales activities including overseeing teams to drive sales growth, setting revenue goals and maintaining and developing client relationships.
11. Commissioning Managers: Oversee testing and setup for complex construction and engineering projects, including data centers.
12. Venture PartnersWork with investment firms to source deals and advise startups.
13. Field Marketing Representatives: Promote products through events, demos, and in-person outreach.
14. Fundraising Officers: Raise money for nonprofits, universities, and other organizations.
15. Background Investigators Verify personal, professional, and legal information for compliance and security purposes.
16. Business Development Executives: Focus on growth, partnerships, and new revenue opportunities.
17. Datacenter Technicians:nstall and maintain the physical infrastructure that keeps servers and networks running.
18. Travel Advisors: Help clients plan and book trips, handling logistics and details.
19. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners:Provide mental health care, including diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing support.
20. Quantitative Researchers & AnalystsUse data and mathematical models to support investment and risk decisions.
21. Financial Advisors & Planners: Help individuals and organizations manage money, investments, and long-term financial planning.
22. Construction Project Leads Coordinate teams, timelines, and resources on large building projects.
23. Legal Researchers:Research laws, regulations, and case history to support legal teams.
24. Public Affairs Specialists: Manage communication with the public, media, and key stakeholders.
25. Benefits Advisors: Help organizations design and manage employee benefits programs.

What the Job Market Looked Like In 2025 

Layoffs made headlines in 2025, with AI being responsible for nearly 55,000 job cuts in the U.S., according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Overall job cuts reached about 1.17 million, the highest level since 2020, when pandemic drove layoffs to 2.2 million. 

While layoffs were the recurring theme of the last year, companies kept investing in areas tied to automation, healthcare operations, infrastructure, and revenue growth. Instead of freezing hiring entirely, many employers focused on roles that could either work alongside AI — or help manage its impact.

The bottom line is clear: In today’s job market, AI is here to stay.

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