08/02/2026
New LinkedIn data has revealed that ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ท๐ผ๐ฏ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐, with more and more applicants competing for fewer roles.
The data shared from LinkedIn exclusively with Yahoo Finance reveals some key insights, including:
๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Since late 2022, the number of applicants per job ad has nearly doubled, meaning more candidates are competing for vacancies than we have seen in a long time.
๐ฅ ๐ค๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ โ ๐ค๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐
Recruiters are reporting lots of applications, but it is still a challenge to find suitable talent, with many applicants unqualified or lacking relevant experience. The โspray and prayโ approach to submitting resumes is flooding systems without connecting talent to suitable jobs.
๐๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป
Hiring rates are 21% lower than before the pandemic, partly due to layoffs and reduced worker churn. Fewer roles means more competition for each opportunity.
๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
With application volumes so high, recruiters are turning to AI tools for screening, interviewing and shortlisting candidates.
โ๏ธ 44% of Aussie recruiters admit they cannot do their job without AI.
โ๏ธ 74% say AI has reshaped how their organisation hires.
โ๏ธ Many believe AI helps standardise interviews and reduce bias.
๐ ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฏ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ & ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐: You are up against a lot of competition. Positioning yourself effectively and ensuring you stand out with relevant experience and human-centred applications matters more than ever.
๐๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐: Efficient screening and candidate engagement, potentially supported by AI, is essential to attract and retain the right talent.
๐กAlthough the job market may be tight, there are still great opportunities for those who adapt, differentiate and invest in strategic skill development ๐ฑ.
In addition, I encourage job seekers to not solely rely on advertised job roles. Remember, many roles are never formally advertised and instead filled through connections, networks and referrals, so employing proactive job search strategies is essential.
If you would like to read the full article, I have put the link in the comments below ๐๐พ