Breaking Job News: LinkedIn Reveals the In-Demand Roles for 2026 & What the Latest Job Reports Signal

The headlines say hiring is back, but the data tells a more cautious story. December job numbers show a labor market that’s still moving, just not accelerating. ADP points to modest hiring gains, while the latest JOLTS report confirms fewer job openings and steady quits. Translation: the market isn’t collapsing, but momentum is fragile, especially in white-collar and discretionary roles.

In today's Breaking Job News, host Pete Newsome breaks down what’s actually holding firm right now. Education, healthcare, and leisure continue to carry job growth, while professional and business services pull back. Pay trends show job changers still earning more than stayers, though the gap is stabilizing. Regionally, the West cools while the South and Northeast add jobs, reshaping where opportunity lives.

Then he zooms out to LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2026, which reveals where hiring is accelerating despite the slowdown. AI dominates the list, from engineers and consultants to data and machine learning roles, but growth isn’t limited to tech. Healthcare operations, real estate and construction, sales, consulting, and founder-led roles are gaining traction, signaling demand for revenue, infrastructure, and flexibility.

Pete connects the dots on what this means for job seekers right now, from building AI literacy and proof-of-work portfolios to sharpening sales and value messaging in a tighter market.

So here’s the question: in a job market that’s cooling overall but heating up in specific roles, where should you be focusing your next move?

Articles:
1. ADP® National Employment Report: https://adpemploymentreport.com/
2. BLS JOLTS Report: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.nr0.htm
3. LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise 2026: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-jobs-rise-2026-25-fastest-growing-roles-us-linkedin-news-dlb1c/

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