LinkedIn Identifiers for AI Skills Arrive as Travel Advisor Careers Surge

SAN FRANCISCO (Azat TV) – LinkedIn is rolling out new features allowing users to verify their artificial intelligence (AI) proficiency and has identified travel advising as one of North America’s fastest-growing careers for 2026, according to its latest ‘Jobs on the Rise’ report. These developments highlight the platform’s ongoing adaptation to evolving workforce demands, even as career professionals on LinkedIn emphasize the enduring value of soft skills brought by older generations.

LinkedIn’s New AI Skill Verification

LinkedIn is introducing a new product designed to allow individuals to demonstrate their AI literacy and skills with a verified identifier. This initiative aims to boost employment options and legitimize upskilling efforts in the rapidly changing tech landscape. Users can now earn live, verified skill badges based on their real-world usage of popular AI tools. LinkedIn is partnering with companies such as Descript, Lovable, Relay.app, and Replit to validate these proficiencies, with plans to add more partners like Gamma, GitHub, and Zapier over time. Hari Srinivasan, LinkedIn’s Vice President of Product, confirmed that these verified badges will help potential employers easily identify a candidate’s strengths and experience with AI tools.

Travel Advisor Careers See Renewed Momentum, LinkedIn Reports

The platform’s ‘Jobs on the Rise 2026 report’ reveals significant shifts in the North American job market, with travel advisor ranking #18 among the fastest-growing careers. This marks a sustained growth trend over the past three years for the profession. The report attributes this resurgence to increasing interest from former corporate professionals, educators, and hospitality workers seeking flexible, home-based work with long-term potential.

This trend is echoed by host agency Nexion Travel Group, which reported a 20% increase in inquiries from individuals exploring a travel advisor career in the last year. Jackie Friedman, CTC, CTIE, President of Nexion Travel Group, stated that people are seeking careers offering flexibility, purpose, and growth, all of which the travel advisor role provides. The industry’s renewed momentum is also supported by advances in technology and expanded host agency support, which have lowered barriers to entry for independent advisors.

A Nexion survey indicated that 88% of its advisors would recommend the career, and 83% were optimistic about the industry’s future. The company also highlighted the early success of Kevin Lapointe, a Nexion Canada Rising Stars award recipient, who found significant success leveraging Nexion’s tools and his passion for travel, particularly all-inclusive experiences in Mexico and the Caribbean.

Valuing Generational Wisdom: Insights from LinkedIn Professionals

Amidst these technological and market shifts, LinkedIn career professionals are also emphasizing the irreplaceable value that older generations, specifically Gen X and Baby Boomers, bring to the modern workplace. While concerns about ageism and tech fluency persist, these experts identify several advantages stemming from decades of experience that cannot be replicated by artificial intelligence or learned quickly. Baby Boomers, for instance, score 34% higher on traditional leadership traits than Millennials and 28% higher on decisiveness and motivation, according to research cited by these professionals. Key soft skills highlighted include:

• Relationship Building: Boomers excel at face-to-face communication, fostering deeper professional bonds and navigating office politics with diplomacy. This relationship capital is crucial during organizational changes.
• Institutional Knowledge and Pattern Recognition: With experience weathering economic downturns and industry transformations, older workers can identify patterns and avoid past mistakes, providing invaluable historical perspective.
• Conflict Resolution: Growing up in an era of social reform, Baby Boomers developed stress resistance 8% higher than Millennials, allowing them to de-escalate tensions and find common ground, maintaining team cohesion.
• Client Retention and Long-Term Partnerships: They prioritize loyalty and relationship cultivation over quick wins, viewing client relationships as long-term investments that create sustainable revenue.
• Mentorship: Older professionals possess the maturity and professionalism to mentor younger workers effectively, sharing wisdom without condescension and fostering independent thinking.
• Crisis Management: Drawing on lived experience, Boomers demonstrate calm confidence in emergencies, making decisive calls without panic and providing emotional stability for teams.

LinkedIn professionals suggest that these skills, developed over decades through trial and error, become increasingly valuable as automation expands. Companies that successfully retain and leverage this wisdom gain competitive advantages beyond what technology alone can offer in human-centered work, according to AOL.

LinkedIn’s simultaneous focus on validating cutting-edge AI skills, identifying emerging career paths, and highlighting the enduring value of seasoned professionals underscores its evolving role as a comprehensive platform for workforce development. By bridging the gap between new technological demands and invaluable human experience, the platform aims to equip professionals across all generations with the tools and recognition needed to thrive in a dynamic global economy.