With the start of the new year, as many professionals make plans for their careers, a shift in career, job changes are all part of the journey. Job seekers in 2024 faced a sluggish labour market, with little movement. What are some of the emerging trends this year?82% professionals in India plan to look for a new job this year. But, 55% say the job search has become harder in the last year, according to new research from LinkedIn. One of the key insights was that 15% of working professionals who were looking for a new job in 2024 are still looking for new opportunities. While 37% said they do not plan to look for a job in 2025, there is growing confidence in the market, on the other hand. 58% believe the job market will improve and they are optimistic about getting a new job in 2025.

Jobs on the rise: LinkedIn’s Jobs On The Rise report highlights the following jobs which are on the upswing in 2025.

1. Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
2. Robotics Technician
3. Closing Manager
4. BIM Technician
5. Sustainability Analyst
6. Behavioural Therapist
7. Travel Specialist
8. Mechanical Engineer
9. Food And Beverage Manager
10. Influencer Marketing Specialist
11. School Counsellor
12. Artificial Intelligence Engineer
13. Power System Engineer
14. Cafe Manager
15. Creative Strategist

Almost two-thirds of this year’s Jobs on the Rise roles are new to the India list and half of these roles didn’t exist 25 years ago. Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Robotics Technician, and Closing Manager are the top three fastest-growing jobs in India. This year’s ranking also spotlights an uptick in roles for security-focused engineering, travel and in-person service sector roles, as business-as-usual returns in many parts of India following pandemic shifts.

Professionals need to adapt their job search to break through: Many professionals are applying to as many jobs as possible, but this strategy isn’t effective. In fact, 49% of job seekers are applying to more jobs than ever, but are hearing back less. Hirers are also finding the process increasingly challenging. Over one-fourth of HR professionals spend between 3-5 hours a day reviewing applications and 55% say that less than half the job applications they receive meet all the criteria.

Three out of 5 (60%) professionals in India say they’re open to a role in a new industry or area, and 39% plan to learn new skills this year to open up opportunities. In fact, there’s been a 140% increase in the pace at which LinkedIn members add new skills to their profile since 2022.

Helpful tips and tools for job seekers in the year ahead: LinkedIn shares a few tips to stay ahead:

• Adopt an adaptability mindset: Navigating the current job market is hard, but with a willingness to adapt, there is more opportunity for career growth.
• Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date. More than ever, it’s important to keep your LinkedIn profile current, especially in today’s job market, as it’s often the first place hirers look to discover talent and learn more about candidates. To stand out, be sure to highlight your skills in the experience section

• Make your match: Quickly understand how your skills and qualifications match any job postings