For years, AI has been seen as a threat to jobs, especially in white-collar sectors where tasks like writing, coding and research are now being handled by machines. But new LinkedIn data suggests the reality is more layered. Even as layoffs continue across the tech industry, AI is also creating a fresh set of roles, many of them high-paying and senior-level positions. According to job posting data analysed by LinkedIn, AI created around 6.4 lakh jobs in the US between 2023 and 2025. These include roles such as AI engineers, strategists, and leadership positions like “Head of AI.”
“We’re not talking about enough jobs to change the direction of the labour market,” Kory Kantenga, LinkedIn’s head of economics, was quoted as saying to The Wall Street Journal. “But for AI roles, growth has pretty much been straight up,” she added.
Senior roles surge as companies double down on AI
One of the biggest takeaways from the report is the sharp rise in senior-level hiring. Companies posted over 2.25 lakh openings for roles like head of AI between 2023 and 2025, which is a 49 per cent jump compared to the previous four years. This shows that businesses are no longer just testing AI tools, they are building long-term strategies around them.
At the same time, demand is growing for roles that support AI systems behind the scenes. Data annotators, who help train models by labelling text, images and audio, have become crucial. LinkedIn data shows that more than 3.12 lakh such roles were added during this period. These jobs range from gig-based work to specialised roles requiring deep expertise.
Hiring is also spreading beyond tech companies. Industries like healthcare, finance and manufacturing are actively recruiting AI talent as they look to integrate automation into daily operations. In many cases, these roles involve both training AI systems and helping employees use them effectively.
Job fears remain as layoffs continue, 3 career options are not safe from AI
Despite this hiring boom, concerns around job losses haven’t gone away. Data from Layoffs.fyi shows that more than 5.41 lakh tech employees were laid off between 2023 and 2025. While the number of layoffs has reduced year by year, the overall scale remains high.
A report by Goldman Sachs adds to the uncertainty, suggesting that AI could automate tasks that account for nearly a quarter of all working hours in the US. Fields like administrative support, legal work and engineering are seen as particularly exposed, making them unsafe from AI. Tech companies themselves have hinted at these changes. Firms like Google and Meta have said that AI is already handling a large share of coding work, which could end entry-level roles in the future.
At the same time, not all indicators point to job losses. According to The Wall Street Journal, a survey of 750 CFOs found that AI had little to no negative impact on overall employment in 2025. Analysts say it is still difficult to directly link layoffs to AI, as many companies are also cutting costs or restructuring.
What is clear, however, is that AI hiring remains concentrated. Only about 6 per cent of companies had job postings mentioning AI by late 2025, with a small group of large firms accounting for most of the demand. This suggests the technology is still in its early stages of adoption.