LinkedIn has released its latest Jobs on the Rise report, offering a clear signal of where hiring momentum is building as we head into 2026. The data, based on job changes and profile updates between 2023 and 2025, shows how professionals and businesses are responding to rapid technological and economic change.

Artificial intelligence dominates the list. At the same time, AI is quietly reshaping existing roles, displacing tasks across marketing and communications and forcing many professionals to reskill as parts of their day-to-day work are automated away.

For senior marketers, the value of the report is not in chasing job titles. The real insight lies in understanding which skills are being created, which are being eroded and how teams need to evolve as AI increasingly nibbles away at marcoms execution.

AI Roles Are Rising Fast And Reshaping Teams

If AI-related roles topping the list feels unsurprising, the impact behind the numbers is more complex.

In the US, LinkedIn lists AI engineers, AI consultants, data annotators and AI researchers among the fastest-rising roles. In Australia, AI Engineer and Director of Artificial Intelligence both rank highly, signalling demand at both technical and leadership levels.

LinkedIn’s Australian data shows AI Engineers typically have a median of 3.5 years’ prior experience, while Directors of Artificial Intelligence average just over seven years. That spread suggests organisations are not experimenting at the edges. Structured AI capability is being built across seniority levels.

At the same time, AI is steadily displacing tasks across marketing and communications. Content drafting, image production, basic media optimisation, reporting and campaign QA are increasingly automated. The impact is rarely immediate redundancy. Instead, responsibilities narrow one task at a time until roles need to be redefined, merged or removed.

The rise of AI consultants, strategic advisors and independent founders supports this shift. As execution becomes cheaper and faster, value moves upstream towards strategy, orchestration and accountability.

Skills Data Shows Deeper AI Integration

LinkedIn’s skills data reinforces that AI adoption is moving beyond surface-level tooling.

Large Language Models, Retrieval-Augmented Generation and MLOps appear consistently across both technical and leadership AI roles. These skills point to AI systems being embedded into products, analytics and operations rather than bolted on as productivity hacks.

Gender distribution adds further context. AI Engineer roles in Australia remain heavily male dominated, with around 21 percent female representation. As AI becomes a core leadership capability rather than a niche technical skill, this imbalance risks carrying through into future executive teams.

For marketing leaders, that should prompt questions around who gets exposure to AI-led projects and who is positioned for the next wave of senior roles.

Reskilling Becomes A Survival Strategy

The displacement effect matters as much as the growth story.

AI is not removing marketing jobs wholesale, but it is removing parts of jobs. Junior and mid-level marcoms roles built around production volume are under the most pressure. Professionals who fail to evolve risk finding their roles hollowed out rather than formally eliminated.

LinkedIn’s career transition data shows that many senior AI and strategy roles originate from analytical, technical and operational backgrounds. Tools amplify expertise. They do not replace it.

For marketers, the lesson is clear. Learning how AI fits into planning, evaluation and optimisation workflows matters far more than mastering prompts or chasing the latest platform feature.

Risk And Regulation Rise Alongside Automation

Another strong signal from LinkedIn’s Australian rankings is the growth of risk and regulatory leadership.

Chief Risk Officer roles show strong momentum, with a median of nearly ten years’ prior experience. Legal Directors and Regulatory Affairs Consultants are also rising, particularly in finance, insurance and regulated industries.

As AI becomes embedded in marcoms, governance expectations rise with it. Data usage, targeting, automation and ESG commitments increasingly fall under legal and risk scrutiny. Campaign planning now intersects directly with compliance frameworks.

For senior marketers, closer alignment with legal and risk teams is becoming operational necessity rather than organisational friction.

Commercial Leadership Still Defines Value

Despite task-level disruption, LinkedIn’s data confirms that revenue-driving roles remain central.

Advertising sales specialists, Media Directors and Heads of Sales all feature among the fastest-growing roles. Media Directors typically bring close to seven years’ experience, with strong demand for programmatic media buying and paid media strategy skills. Nearly half of these roles offer hybrid working.

Heads of Sales roles average more than nine years’ experience and remain concentrated in technology, IT services and real estate. Soft skills, account management and strategic planning appear as frequently as technical capability.

Automation is changing how these roles operate, but not why they exist. Commercial judgement, negotiation and relationship management still define success.

Founders And Consultants Reflect Structural Change

The rise of founders and independent consultants as recognised job titles reflects another response to displacement.

In Australia, founders often transition from CEO, general management or software engineering roles. Almost half of founder roles offer hybrid working, with more than 13 percent fully remote.

US data shows similar growth in strategic advisors and independent consultants. Organisations are accessing specialist expertise without committing to permanent headcount, while professionals seek autonomy and portfolio careers.

For agencies and brands, this expands access to talent while increasing competition for experienced operators.

What Jobs On The Rise Really Signals

LinkedIn is offering free access to selected LinkedIn Learning courses aligned to many of these roles until February 6. Topics span AI fundamentals, risk management, leadership and media performance.

Jobs on the Rise 2026 does not describe a future where AI replaces marketing outright. It describes a market where AI creates new roles while steadily displacing tasks across marcoms.

For senior marketers, the challenge is not whether to adopt AI. The challenge is deciding which skills remain human-led, which tasks should be automated and how teams reskill before slow displacement turns into sudden disruption.