Two-thirds of recruiters say it has become harder to find qualified talent even as the number of applicants for open roles have doubled since spring 2022, according to a recent LinkedIn survey, signaling a growing divide between recruiters and job seekers.
More than half of people globally will look for a new role this year, and four in five job seekers LinkedIn surveyed feel unprepared to find a job in 2026. Nearly half of applicants across all generations — not just Gen Z applying for entry-level roles — are concerned about how to stand out.
“The people I know who are job seeking today say it feels challenging to break through. They’re navigating fierce competition, uncertain about which roles they qualify for, and wondering whether their AI skills measure up,” said Teuila Hanson, LinkedIn’s chief people officer.
Both sides say they plan to use AI more
The gap between recruiters and applicants comes as AI has cemented itself as part of the hiring process.
