Professional Studies: Career trends in India are rapidly changing as 2026 approaches. According to a new LinkedIn survey, a large number of Indian professionals are planning to change jobs, but 84% feel they are not fully prepared. Increased competition, AI-based recruitment processes, and rapidly changing skill demands are major contributing factors. The survey indicates that only those professionals who are willing to continuously learn, upgrade their skills, and keep pace with technology will thrive in the future.

Professional Studies: A significant shift in career aspirations is being observed among working professionals in India. As 2026 approaches, most Indian professionals are planning to look for new jobs or roles. However, due to the changing job market, increased competition, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based recruitment processes, a large number of people do not feel fully prepared. This was revealed in a survey conducted by the professional networking platform LinkedIn.

84% of Professionals Don't Feel Prepared

According to the LinkedIn survey, approximately 84% of Indian professionals believe they are not adequately prepared to find a new job. The main reasons cited are the increasing use of AI in the recruitment process, rapidly changing skill demands, and a highly competitive job market. Professionals fear being left behind by the pace of technological advancements. Today, companies are giving more importance to up-to-date skills, data literacy, and the ability to work with technology, rather than just degrees or experience. Many people feel inadequate in meeting these new standards.

Number of Applicants Doubles, Increasing Pressure

LinkedIn data shows that the number of applicants for any given job opening in India has more than doubled since the beginning of 2022. This means that there are significantly more candidates vying for each job than before. This increased competition has made the job market extremely challenging. This is why many professionals are hesitant about changing jobs, even if they want to. They feel that simply wanting to change jobs isn't enough; adapting themselves to the new era has become far more crucial.

Finding Talent is Also Becoming a Challenge

This shift isn't limited to job seekers. Nearly 74% of those surveyed acknowledged that finding qualified talent has become even more difficult in the past year. Companies are also looking for professionals who can strike a balance between technology, innovation, and business needs. This has become a new challenge for human resources professionals, who need not only people with the right skills but also candidates who can adapt to a rapidly changing environment.

AI is Changing the Recruitment Process

According to Nirajita Banerjee, Senior Managing Editor and Career Expert at LinkedIn India, AI is no longer just a tool in the Indian job market, but has become the foundation of career building and talent assessment. She said that the biggest need today is for professionals to understand how their existing skills can be translated into new opportunities and how recruitment decisions are actually being made. According to her, if AI tools are used correctly, they can help people identify suitable roles, prepare better, and focus on the necessary skills.

On what basis was the survey conducted?

This study was conducted under the 'Consumer and Global Human Resources Professional Study,' carried out by 'Censuswide' in November 2025. It included 19,113 respondents who were working full-time, part-time, or were unemployed and looking for a job. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 79 years. In addition, 6,554 global human resources professionals were also interviewed during this period.

What does the LinkedIn survey indicate?

This LinkedIn survey clearly indicates that India's job market is going to undergo a major transformation in 2026. While a large number of professionals want to make a fresh start, a lack of preparation, skill gaps, and AI-based systems are leaving them confused. In the future, only those professionals who are ready to continuously learn, upgrade their skills, and adapt to technology will be able to succeed.

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