25 fastest-growing jobs in the UK for 2026
In a world full of negative news surrounding the job market, LinkedIn’s Economic Graph Researchers have shown exactly where the ‘hot jobs’ for 2026 are. Finance, Engineering, AI, Education and more; there are a wide range of different fields covered in the top 25 fastest growing UK jobs for 2026.
If you’re planning a career move, what exactly should you be on the lookout for in 2026?
Chief Financial Officers lead a company’s financial strategy, overseeing budgeting, reporting, risk management and long-term financial planning.
Chief Financial Officers might also be referred to as Head of Finance or Finance Directors.
Top roles transitioned from Head of Finance, Vice President Finance, Managing Director
Heads of Product Management set product strategy and NPD, lead product teams and oversee the development and delivery of a company’s product portfolio. This role can also be known as Head of Product or Product Director.
Top roles that Heads of Product Management have transitioned from include Product Manager, Product Team Manager, Vice President of Products.
Mechanical Designers, or Mechanical Design Engineers, create and develop mechanical components and systems using computer-aided design (CAD) tools and engineering principles.
The top roles Mechanical Designers have transitioned from include: Design Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer, and Mechanical Engineer.
Sales Managers lead sales teams by setting targets, guiding daily activity and driving revenue through effective strategy, forecasting and client relationship management.
The most common industries for Sales Manager roles in 2026 include IT Services/ IT Consulting, Transportation Equipment Manufacturing, Technology, Information and Internet.
Top roles Sales Managers have transitioned from include: Account Manager, Sales Specialist, and Sales Executive.
With the continued rise of AI, there is no surprise AI Engineer comes in the top 25, (also commonly referred to as Machine Learning Engineer).
AI engineers design, develop, deploy and maintain artificial intelligence models, systems and algorithms.
The top roles AI Engineers have transitioned from include: Software Engineer, Data Scientist, and Machine Learning Engineer.
Much like the unsurprising rise of AI Engineers, the more senior Head of Artificial Intelligence roles have also grown in popularity (can also be known as Director of AI).
Heads of AI oversee an organisation’s approach, strategy and implementation to artificial intelligence, guiding the planning and execution of projects that use AI, and ensuring it’s used responsibly and appropriately in order to improve products, services and day-to-day operations.
The top roles that Head of Artificial Intelligence workers have transitioned from include: Software Engineer, Director of Business Strategy, and Head of Data Science.
Strategic Advisors (also known as Strategy Consultants) provide senior-level guidance to help businesses make informed decisions around their business operations, direction, policy and long-term growth. Most commonly, a Strategic Advisor is generally classified as an independent contractor.
Top roles Strategic Advisors have transitioned from: Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, Business Consultant.
Lecturers teach courses in Universities or Further Education Colleges. Mentoring, developing and grading students within their chosen discipline(s). Lecturing can come in many formats, whether someone is a permanent Lecturer across many modules within a University, or an Associate or Guest Lecturer across multiple different universities.
Top roles Lecturers have transitioned from include: Teacher, Teaching Assistant, and Academic Tutor.
Investment brokers buy and sell financial securities on behalf of their clients, helping them manage risk and maximise returns. An Investment Broker will act as a licensed intermediary between investors securities exchanges, buying and selling stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other financial products on behalf of clients.
Top roles Investment Brokers have transitioned from include: Business Development Manager, Finance Broker, and Mortgage Broker.
Heads of Insurance oversee an organisation’s insurance programmes. They manage risk transfer, policy coverage and the selection and performance of insurance providers to ensure the right protections are in place. They will develop and execute an organisation’s global risk and insurance strategy with the aim to protect assets, minimise liabilities, and optimise insurance costs.
Top roles Heads of Insurance have transitioned from include: Claims Manager, Underwriting Manager, and Insurance Manager.
Couriers are also commonly referred to as Delivery Drivers or Postman/Postwoman. Couriers deliver letters, parcels and goods to customers across designated routes. With the rise of eCommerce and decline of many major UK highstreets, there is no surprise that the demand for Couriers is increasing.
The top roles that Couriers have transitioned from include: Driver, Material Handler, and Customer Service Representative.
An increasing number of people are turning to entrepreneurship. Whether they are founding their own Consultancy businesses to offer Interim, contact & freelance services. Or they’re beginning their own start-ups.
The most popular industries for Founders in 2026 are in: Technology, Information and Internet, Business Consulting and Services, IT Services and IT Consulting.
Top roles Founders have transitioned from include Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, and Project Manager.
Building Inspectors, are also commonly referred to as Building Control Officers/Surveyors. Building Inspectors assess buildings to ensure they meet safety regulations, building codes and structural standards.
The top roles that Building Inspectors have transitioned from include: Building Surveyor, Project Manager, and Construction Consultant.
Machine Learning Researchers develop and test new models and algorithms that enable computers to learn from data, recognise patterns and make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed. With the rise of AI, this is another unsurprising role to be so fast-growing. You might commonly see Machine Learning Researchers also referred to as AI Researchers or AI/ML Research Scientists.
Top roles that Machine Learning Researchers have transitioned from include: Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, and Research Instructor.
Employment Consultants (also known as Employment Advisors), help individuals find suitable work and may also advise employers on their recruitment needs. Commonly these types of roles might also be found within Higher Education, helping students find placements and connecting with businesses to see if they offer placement jobs or graduate jobs.
The top roles Employment Consultants have transitioned from include: Career Counsellor, Recruitment Consultant, and Social Worker.
While many talk about the rise of automation taking jobs in the future, roles like Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers are yet to face the same threat. Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers (or HVAC Engineers) install, maintain and optimise heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems to ensure efficient and reliable climate control.
Top roles that HVAC Engineers have transitioned from include: Heating Air Conditioning Technician, Air Conditioning Engineer, Mechanical Engineer.
Corporate Partnership Manager’s can also be known as Business Development Managers or Partnerships Development Managers. These workers develop and manage long-term strategic relationships with partner organisations to support growth and joint commercial goals.
The top roles Corporate Partnership Managers have transitioned from include: Fundraiser, Partnerships Manager, and Business Development Manager.
Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose and treat mental health conditions using evidence-based psychological therapies and interventions. With the rise in mental health diagnoses and pressure on health services, these roles are more in demand.
Top roles Clinical Psychologists have transitioned from include: Psychologist, Mental Health Practitioner, Psychotherapist
Preconstruction managers oversee the planning, pricing and tendering needed to prepare construction projects for delivery.
The top roles that Precontraction Managers have transitioned from include: Project Manager, Bid Manager, Construction Estimator.
Chief Marketing Officers are senior leaders of a Marketing team and function. Chief Marketing Officers set a company’s marketing direction, shape omni channel meaning marketing and brand strategy, and guide how the organisation engages its customers. Chief Marketing Officers might also be known as a Marketing Directors.
Top roles that Chief Marketing Officers have transitioned from include: Marketing Director, Head of Marketing, Vice President Marketing.
Land Managers, might also be referred to as Land Acquisition Manager. In this role someone would identify, assess and acquire land for development, and also oversee the management of land assets for long-term strategic use.
Top roles that Land Managers have transitioned from include: Project Manager, Land Acquisition, Property Manager.
Employee relations specialists handle workplace issues and formal cases, advise managers on employment law and ensure policies and procedures are applied fairly and consistently.
Top roles that Employee Relations Specialists have transitioned from include: Employee Relations Manager, Human Resources Business Partner, Human Resources Manager.
Energy analysts assess energy use, systems and markets to provide insights that improve efficiency, support planning and inform investment or policy decisions. In some cases, Energy Analysts might also be referred to as Energy Consultants.
Top roles Energy Analysts have transitioned from include Investment Analyst, Energy Specialist, Energy Consultant.
Safety engineers identify and mitigate risks in systems, equipment and processes, ensuring designs and operations meet health and safety standards and regulatory requirements.
Top roles that Safety Engineers have transitioned from include Safety Manager, Reliability Engineer, Process Safety Engineer.
Property directors lead the strategy, development and management of an organisation’s property portfolio, ensuring assets are well run, compliant and support long-term business goals. Property Directors can also be known as Estate Directors.
Top roles that Property Director’s have transitioned from include: Property Manager, Head of Facilities Management, Director of Facilities.