A new report has painted a vivid picture of India's rapidly evolving employment landscape, highlighting a surge in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) expertise alongside a significant anxiety among the workforce. According to LinkedIn's Jobs on the Rise 2026 report, released on January 8, 2026, roles like AI Engineer and Prompt Engineer are leading the growth charts, yet a staggering 84 per cent of Indian professionals feel unprepared to navigate this new terrain.
Widespread Anxiety in a Competitive Market
The LinkedIn research, published recently, reveals a deep-seated concern among job seekers globally and in India. It found that 80 per cent of global talent and 84 per cent of Indian professionals feel ill-equipped to find a job this year. This feeling of unpreparedness persists even though a majority—72 per cent of Indians—are planning to switch jobs in 2026.
The pressure is intensified by a sharp increase in competition. The report highlights that the number of applicants per open role in India has more than doubled since 2022. This fierce competition, coupled with the swift, AI-driven changes in required skills, is creating a challenging environment for millions.
The Top 10 Fastest-Growing Job Roles
The report, which analysed millions of jobs started by LinkedIn members between January 2023 and July 2025, identifies the following as the top 10 fastest-growing jobs in India for 2026:
- Prompt Engineer (Top Skills: LLM, Prompt Design; Key Locations: Bengaluru, Delhi)
- AI Engineer (Top Skills: PyTorch, Deep Learning; Key Locations: Bengaluru, Hyderabad)
- Software Engineer (Top Skills: SDLC, Kubernetes; Key Locations: Hyderabad, Bengaluru)
- Manager of AI (Top Skills: MLOps, RAG; Key Locations: Bengaluru, Delhi)
- Strategic Advisor (Top Skills: GTM Strategy, M&A; Key Locations: Delhi, Bengaluru)
- Media Buyer (Top Skills: Performance Marketing; Key Locations: Delhi, Kolkata)
- Sales Specialist (Top Skills: Export Operations, International Business; Key Locations: Bengaluru, Mumbai)
- Behavioural Therapist (Top Skills: Applied Behaviour Analysis; Key Locations: Bengaluru, Hyderabad)
- Veterinarian (Top Skills: Animal Health, Surgery; Key Locations: Bengaluru, Hyderabad)
- Solar Consultant (Top Skills: Solar PV, System Design; Key Locations: Nagpur, Lucknow)
The list underscores a clear trend: the rise of technical and leadership roles centred on AI, moving away from traditional career hierarchies. Positions like Strategic Advisor and Director of Business Development are also gaining significant importance.
A Diverse Mix: AI and Human-Centric Roles
While AI-centric jobs dominate the top of the list, the inclusion of Behavioural Therapist and Veterinarian points to a counter-trend. Despite automation fears, there is robust growth in professions requiring high levels of human empathy, specialised care, and interpersonal skills that are difficult to replicate with technology.
The data also sheds light on gender distribution within these high-growth fields. Roles like Behavioural Therapist show a high representation of women (81% female), whereas fields such as AI Engineering (78% male), Veterinarian (87% male), and Solar Consultant (92% male) remain heavily male-dominated, indicating areas for potential diversification.
Geographically, Bengaluru and Hyderabad emerge as the primary hubs for the majority of these fast-growing jobs, especially in tech and AI, followed by Delhi and Mumbai for advisory and sales roles. Emerging locations like Nagpur and Lucknow also feature for niche roles like Solar Consultant.
The LinkedIn report serves as a crucial roadmap for job seekers, educators, and policymakers. It signals the urgent need for upskilling in AI and related technologies while also validating the enduring value of specialised, human-centric professions in India's future economy.
