LinkedIn is seeing stronger member engagement and rising demand for creator-led advertising, according to figures released alongside Microsoft’s first-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings report.
The professional networking platform recorded a 15% year-over-year increase in the time users spent on the app, while its total membership climbed beyond 1.4 billion. The figures point to growth across the platform’s audience and advertising business, although its membership count does not necessarily reflect how many people use the service regularly.
LinkedIn CEO Daniel Shapero shared the platform’s performance updates on October 28, following Microsoft’s earnings announcement.
LinkedIn focuses on improving user engagement
Shapero said making LinkedIn more relevant and engaging has remained a priority, particularly as the world of work continues to change.
The company has introduced several measures aimed at improving the quality of content and interactions on the platform. These include giving members an option to report low-quality AI-generated posts, commonly described as AI slop, and taking action against inauthentic engagement practices.
LinkedIn has also been targeting engagement pods and third-party services that sell automated interactions. Such activities can artificially inflate reactions and comments, making it harder for users to identify genuine conversations.
Other changes include testing a dedicated Network tab to encourage interactions among existing connections and updating the platform’s interface to make navigation and engagement easier.
The company appears to be betting that improving the quality of its feed and making connections more accessible will encourage members to spend more time on the service.
Membership exceeds 1.4 billion, but active usage remains a separate measure
LinkedIn’s total membership has now passed 1.4 billion, compared with approximately 1.3 billion reported in the fourth quarter of its previous fiscal year.
However, the number of registered members does not provide a complete picture of the platform’s active audience. Some members may rarely or never use their accounts.
Based on the publication’s previous estimates, around 30% of LinkedIn’s membership base is active. Applying that proportion to the current membership figure would put its monthly active audience at approximately 420 million users.
LinkedIn does not regularly publish global active-user figures. The European Union is the only region where it provides such data, in line with requirements under the Digital Services Act.
Its reported EU activity levels have remained relatively stable, with active users accounting for between 28% and 30% of the region’s membership base.
This distinction is important when assessing the platform’s growth: a larger membership does not automatically translate into an equivalent increase in people using LinkedIn regularly.
Creator-led advertising gains momentum
LinkedIn’s advertising business also recorded growth, particularly in video and campaigns featuring creators.
According to Shapero, paid video advertising increased by 25% year over year, while advertisements featuring creators grew by 63% over the same period.
The figures reflect LinkedIn’s expanding efforts to connect brands with creators who can help them reach professional audiences. The company has been developing tools to help advertisers discover suitable creators and has introduced monetisation opportunities that allow creators to earn revenue from advertising.
For brands, creator-led campaigns offer another way to communicate with LinkedIn’s professional audience beyond conventional sponsored posts and display advertising. For creators, the expansion creates additional opportunities to earn from their content and partnerships.
Hiring tools and Premium subscriptions record growth
LinkedIn also reported increased adoption of its business products.
Shapero said 25,000 customers are now using the company’s agentic hiring products, which apply AI-powered capabilities to recruitment processes.
Meanwhile, Premium Company subscriptions increased by 121% year over year, suggesting stronger demand for LinkedIn’s paid services among businesses.
The latest figures show that LinkedIn’s growth is not limited to membership. The platform is also recording higher user engagement, expanding its advertising formats and attracting more customers to its paid business offerings.
However, whether the increase in registered members will translate into sustained growth in active usage remains an important measure to watch.
Source: Social Media News