‘It feels challenging to break through’: Most recruiters say they can’t find talent while 80% of job seekers feel unprepared to find a job

Two-thirds of recruiters say it has become harder to find qualified talent even as the number of applicants for open roles have doubled since spring 2022, according to a recent LinkedIn survey, signaling a growing divide between recruiters and job seekers.  

More than half of people globally will look for a new role this year, and four in five job seekers LinkedIn surveyed feel unprepared to find a job in 2026. Nearly half of applicants across all generations — not just Gen Z applying for entry-level roles — are concerned about how to stand out. 

“The people I know who are job seeking today say it feels challenging to break through. They’re navigating fierce competition, uncertain about which roles they qualify for, and wondering whether their AI skills measure up,” said Teuila Hanson, LinkedIn’s chief people officer. 

Both sides say they plan to use AI more 

The gap between recruiters and applicants comes as AI has cemented itself as part of the hiring process.

“We’re at a tipping point: job seekers and recruiters are quickly learning new AI tools and navigating new experiences like AI-powered interviews. There’s a learning curve, but those willing to experiment gain a real edge,” Hanson said. 

A 2025 study by Greenhouse found that only 8% of job seekers believe AI screening makes hiring fairer, and half have less trust in the application process compared to the previous year. Many point to AI as the reason for their distrust. 

Still a majority of applicants who responded to LinkedIn’s survey of 19,113 consumers and 6,554 HR professionals across the world say they plan to or already have used AI in their job search, and nearly half say they use AI tools to boost their interview confidence. 

“I’m encouraged to see more people using AI in ways that genuinely help them show up with confidence,” Hanson said. “For example, tools like LinkedIn’s job match highlight how well your skills align with a role so you can focus your energy on the opportunities that fit you best. We’re already seeing this reduce the rate at which Premium subscribers in the U.S. apply to “low match” jobs by 10%.”

Over a third of recruiters say they are facing increased pressure to hire faster and find “hidden gems,” or overlooked but high-potential candidates. Most say they intend to increase their use of AI in 2026, including for prescreening, and nearly 60% say AI is already helping them find candidates with skills they wouldn’t have found before

“Something I hear from recruiters both inside and outside LinkedIn is that they’re using AI tools to take routine tasks off their plates so they can spend more time improving the overall candidate experience. This includes supporting candidates throughout the job search process, setting them up for career success once they’re in the role, and spending more time on human conversations that build trust and clarity,” Hanson said.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com