LinkedIn Report Shows UK Hiring Fell 24% Since 2019

A report from LinkedIn shows that hiring in the United Kingdom fell by 24% between January 2019 and January 2026, including a further 10% decline year-on-year. The professional networking site attributes the slump to geopolitical and trade uncertainty and low business confidence. While 12% of British workers hold roles potentially threatened by artificial intelligence due to low skill adaptability, the data suggests these factors are not the primary drivers of the hiring decline.

Despite the overall downturn, the market has created 95,000 AI-related roles since 2023, and hiring for AI engineers remains 18% higher than the overall rate. Geographically, London saw the steepest hiring decline at 32%, while Liverpool and Belfast were the least affected.

LinkedIn noted that the UK has struggled to attract and retain high-demand AI engineers since 2022. The company emphasized a growing need for a workforce that combines AI literacy with human skills such as creativity and collaboration to support economic recovery.