Hiring down 24% since before Covid but AI roles in high demand, says LinkedIn

UK hiring has fallen by 24% since January 2019, and 12% of British workers are in roles potentially exposed to AI, according to LinkedIn. The report shows 95,000 AI-related roles created since 2023, with AI engineers hiring 18% above the overall rate. London leads declines at 32% since 2019, while Liverpool and Belfast have fared better at 6% and 3%, respectively. The data suggest economic uncertainty rather than AI disruption is driving hiring slowdowns, with 12% of workers in AI-exposed jobs and concerns about low skill adaptability. The study highlights growing demand for workers who blend AI literacy with crucial human skills such as collaboration and creativity, and notes the UK lags in key AI-talent pools.