A recent survey has shown that in India, 84 per cent of professionals feel unprepared to find a new job, even though 72 per cent Indians are looking for
a change in this new year. The survey shows that 72 per cent of Indian professionals are looking for a new role in 2026, but 76 per cent say job search has become tougher, citing competition, uncertainty about role fit and skills gaps. New research from LinkedIn, a professional network, has shown that majority of job seekers and professionals in India feel lost amid the increasing usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the job market, especially in the hiring process. While 87 per cent are comfortable using AI at work, many feel uncertain about how it’s being used in hiring, with 77 per cent saying there are too many stages in the process and 66 per cent finding it increasingly impersonal. Additionally, recruiter response time and lack of feedback makes the wait even more overwhelming, leaving professionals across all generations with the same struggle: how to make their application stand out (48 per cent agree). The research also shows that AI is not just a helping tool for Indian professionals, but is acting more like a confidence builder and lifesaver for Indians. Research shows that AI has moved from a productivity aid to a confidence-builder for Indian job seekers, with 94 per cent planning to use it in their job search and 66 per cent saying it boosts their interview confidence. Around 76 per cent of job seekers say finding a new role has become tougher over the last year. Data shows that applicants per open role in India have more than doubled since early 2022, intensifying competition and leaving many feeling unprepared. And it’s not just job seekers feeling the pressure. Nearly 74 per cent of Indian recruiters say it’s become harder over the last year to find qualified talent. There's also an incoming shift in the kind of job searches being parallel with the changing generations. Almost a third (32 per cent) of Gen X job seekers are considering new functions or roles, while 32 per cent of Gen Zers are looking for roles outside their current industry. At the same time, more people are stepping outside of traditional roles and into entrepreneurship, with ‘founder’ rapidly growing on the job search platform. This research was conducted by Censuswide in November 2025 among 19,113 respondents who work full time/part time or who are unemployed but are currently looking for a role (aged 18-79) between November 13 and November 28, 2025, and among 6,554 global HR professionals between November 10 and November 27, 2025. Markets included the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Sweden, the Netherlands, India, Singapore, Australia, and MENA (Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates).
