Navigating today’s job market requires adapting faster than ever. Artificial intelligence is reshaping every stage of the employment journey — and many workers are trying to figure out how to stay ahead. More than half of professionals (56%) plan to job-hunt this year, yet 76% say they don’t feel prepared, according to recent Linkedln research.
With so much in flux, identifying pockets of opportunity matters more than ever. Linkedln’s annual “Jobs on the Rise” list highlights the fastest-growing roles of the last three years.
This year’s list points to continued momentum in both technical and strategic AI roles, including AI engineers, AI consultants and data annotators. The rise in founders and independent consultants also points to a shift toward self-employment and gig work as professionals adapt to uncertainty.
And the ranking is only a starting point. Each role includes insights on key skills, hiring hotspots, and more.
Following are the 25 fastest- growing jobs in the U.S.
1. Artificial intelligence engineers. AI engineers develop and implement AI models that perform complex tasks typically requiring human decision-making, like problem- solving and prediction. Most common skills: Lang-Chain, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), PyTorch. Most common industries: technology and internet, information technology services and IT consulting, business consulting and services.
2. AI consultants and strategists.
Artificial intelligence consultants and strategists help organizations plan and implement AI technologies to improve operations and reach their goals. Most common skills: Large Language Models, MLOps, Computer Vision. Most common industries: technology and internet, IT services and IT consulting, business consulting and services.
3. New home sales specialists.
New home sales specialists guide buyers through the purchasing process for newly constructed homes, from conducting property tours to managing sales transactions. Most common skills: residential real estate, real estate transactions, buyer representation. Most common industries: real estate, building construction, staffing and recruiting.
4. Data annotators (aka content analysts).
Data annotators label and review data using detailed guidelines and quality checks to ensure accurate datasets for training AI and machine learning models, often on a per-project basis.
Most common skills: SEO (search engine optimization) copywriting, content marketing, and content production. Most common industries: technology and internet, staffing and recruiting, and higher education.
5. AI/ML researchers.
Artificial intelligence/machine learning researchers design and test new models and algorithms, using the results to improve AI systems. Most common skills: PyTorch, Deep Learning, Computer Vision.
Most common industries: technology and internet, higher education, research services.
6. Healthcare reimbursement specialists.
They oversee billing and claims-submission processes for healthcare services, ensuring providers receive correct and timely payment for services. Most common skills: Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, prior authorization, managed care.
Most common industries: chemical manufacturing, research services, IT services and IT consulting.
El 7. Strategic advisers and independent consultants.
These individuals bring specialized expertise to help organizations solve complex problems and drive results. Most common skills: executive advisory, go-tomarket strategy, strategic partnerships. Most common industries: technology and internet, business consulting and services, IT services and IT consulting. Median years of prior experience: 8.1.
8. Advertising sales specialists.
They sell advertising space across channels, matching client needs with the right media placements. Most common skills: media planning, social media optimization, paid social media advertising. Most common industries: media and telecommunications, advertising services, technology and internet.
9. Founders.
Founders turn ideas into viable businesses by setting strategy, securing resources and leading early execution. Most common skills: start-up leadership, brand development, software development. Most common industries: technology and internet, business consulting and services, IT services and IT consulting.
Linkedln data shows that founders, strategic advisers and independent consultants are among the fastest- growing jobs right now.
What’s more, the number of people adding “founder” to their profiles has nearly tripled since 2022.
10. Sales executives.
These people lead an organization’s sales activities, including setting revenue goals, maintaining and developing client relationships and overseeing teams to drive sales growth. Most common skills: C-level management, international sales, sales strategy.
Most common industries: technology and internet, business consulting and services, IT services and IT consulting.
11. Commissioning managers.
They lead the testing and validation of complex construction and engineering projects — such as data centers — to ensure they operate safely and functionally. Most common skills: electrical testing, piping and instrumentation drawing, equipment testing. Most common industries: engineering services, IT services and IT consulting, machinery manufacturing.
12. Venture partners.
They support firms by sourcing opportunities and offering strategic guidance across investments. Most common skills: early stage investment, corporate venture capital, deal sourcing.
Most common industries: capital markets, technology and internet, business consulting and services.
13. Field marketing representatives.
They promote products or services directly to customers via in-person events, retail sites or other channels to drive awareness and generate leads. Most common skills: pharmaceutical sales, market planning, market analysis. Most common industries: services for renewable energy, food and beverage manufacturing, food and beverage services.
El 14. Fundraising officers.
They develop and implement strategies to secure financial support for business 7.4.
projects or nonprofit activities, acting as a bridge between an organization’s needs and potential donors. Most common skills: major gift development, philanthropy, donor engagement.
Most common industries: nonprofit organizations, higher education, museums and historical sites.
15. Background investigators.
They verify personal, professional and legal information to ensure individuals meet eligibility requirements for employment, security or other compliance purposes. Most common skills: background checks, private investigations, general investigations. Most common industries: IT services and IT consulting, technology and internet, security and investigations.
16. Business development executives.
These execs identify growth opportunities, build strategic partnerships and drive revenue growth through new clients and revenue streams. Most common skills: sales management, customer relationship management, inbound lead generation. Most common industries: non-profit organizations, technology and internet, research services.
Median years of prior experience: 17. Data center technicians.
These tech specialists install, maintain and troubleshoot computer servers, storage systems and other hardware to ensure reliable data center operations.
Most common skills: data center infrastructure, data center operations, cabling.
Most common industries: IT services and IT consulting, technology and internet, staffing and recruiting.
18. Travel advisers.
Travel advisors help clients plan and book travel experiences, coordinating logistics and providing tailored recommendations to fit their preferences and budgets.
Most common skills: travel planning, travel management, business travel. Most common industries: travel arrangements, hospitality, technology and internet.
19. Psychiatric nurse practitioners. These medical professionals assess and diagnose mental health conditions, manage treatment plans and provide ongoing therapeutic care for patients. Most common skills: psychiatric care, behavioral health nursing, medication management.
Most common industries: medical practices, recreational facilities, individual and family services. Median years of prior experience: 6.3. Top roles transitioned from: registered nurse, family nurse practitioner, intensive care nurse.
20. Quantitative researchers and analysts.
These people build and test mathematical and statistical models to support investment, trading and risk decisions. Most common skills: algorithmic trading, statistical research, backtesting (the general method for seeing how well a strategy or model would have done after the fact). Most common industries: capital markets, technology and internet, research service.
Top roles transitioned from: software engineer, statistician, data scientist.
21. Financial advisers and planners.
They help individuals or organizations manage their finances and achieve financial goals by providing recommendations on saving, investing and budgeting. Most common skills: retirement planning, wealth management services, estate planning. Most common industries: capital markets, insurance, credit intermediation. Top roles transitioned from: banker, wealth manager, business development officer.
22. Construction project leads.
They oversee the end-toend of building projects coordinating tasks, guiding teams and managing resources. Most common skills: value engineering, construction estimating, subcontracting. Most common industries: real estate, IT services and IT consulting, technology and internet. Median years of prior experience: 6.0.
23. Legal researchers.
They gather and analyze legal information — such as statutes, regulations and cases — to support litigation, policy and advisory work for legal teams.
Most common skills: legal writing, litigation, corporate law. Most common industries: legal services, higher education, nonprofit organizations.
24. Public affairs specialists. These professionals manage an organization’s communication with the public by developing external messaging, responding to public inquiries and supporting community and media relations. Most common skills: crisis communications, media relations, press liaison.
Most common industries: military and international affairs, advertising services, research services. Median years of prior experience: 5.5. Top roles transitioned from: communications associate, outreach manager, journalist.
25. Benefits advisers.
These advisers help individuals and organizations manage employee benefit programs, from enrollment decisions to program design and administration. Most common skills: employee benefits design, benefits administration, health and welfare benefits. Most common industries: insurance, business consulting and services, technology and internet.
This ranking is based on Linkedln data and was compiled by Linkedln data scientists in partnership with editors on the Linkedln News team.
Linkedln researchers examined millions of jobs started by Linkedln members from Jan. 1, 2023, to July 31, 2025, to calculate a growth rate for each job title. To be ranked, a job title needed to see positive growth across our membership base and sufficient job postings in the past year, as well as have grown to a meaningful size by 2025.
Identical job titles across different seniority levels were grouped and ranked together. Internships, volunteer positions, interim roles and student roles were excluded, and jobs where hiring was dominated by a small handful of companies in each country were also excluded.