Hiring across Dallas-Fort Worth rebounded in May, part of a Texas-led uptick in a national job market that remains well below its pre-pandemic pace, according to new LinkedIn data.
DFW hiring was 11.7% higher in May 2026 compared to April 2026 and was 0.5% lower compared to May 2025, according to LinkedIn’s June 2026 Workforce Report for Dallas-Fort Worth.
Nationally, hiring rose 7.8% month over month in May but remained 4.8% below a year earlier and nearly 22% below its pre-pandemic level. Texas metros led the rebound: Houston was up 14.4%, Austin 12.5%, and Dallas-Fort Worth 11.7%.
AI on Top, Infrastructure Underneath
LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2026 ranking for Dallas-Fort Worth puts AI engineers at #1 and AI consultants and strategists at #2 among the fastest-growing roles over the past three years. The report signals increased AI investment in the region, while roles like new home sales specialists and construction inspectors point to continued demand in the local real estate market.
The Rest of the Top 10
- #3: Data center technician – ties to AI-era infrastructure, with top skills including Data Center Infrastructure, Technical Support, and Cabling.
- #4: New home sales specialist
- #5: Construction inspector
- #6: Strategic advisor / independent consultant
- #7: Marketing strategist
- #8: Founder – not a typical hire, but reflects a rise in people starting their own businesses.
- #9: Financial consultant
- #10: Real estate broker
Room for Different AI Skill Levels
AI engineers in the ranking had a median of just 2.7 years of prior experience, the lowest of any role, while AI consultants and strategists had 5.9 years. Common prior roles for AI engineers include software engineer, data scientist, and data engineer. Top skills for AI engineers: Large Language Models (LLM), PyTorch, and TensorFlow.
How the Ranking Was Built
LinkedIn analyzed millions of jobs started by members from January 2023 to July 2025, excluding internships and interim roles. The list drew comments about what’s missing: skilled trades behind AI infrastructure, like power, fiber, concrete, steel, and cooling, are not captured.
Resources for Job Hunters
Each role links to open jobs and suggested LinkedIn Learning courses. LinkedIn also offers a skills-matcher tool to help find possible job transitions based on skills similarity.
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