Roughly 35 to 50 percent of LinkedIn job postings are Easy Apply at any given time. These are jobs where you can submit your resume and info directly through LinkedIn, skipping long external forms. This post breaks down the data, why it matters, and how to focus your efforts for more efficient job hunting.
How Many LinkedIn Jobs Are Easy Apply? (The Real Numbers)
One of the most common frustrations for job seekers on LinkedIn is running into the external application wall. You click "Apply" and get bounced to a third-party site with endless forms. Easy Apply jobs let you submit your application in just a few clicks, no external site, no account creation, no copy-pasting your resume into 12 different fields. But how many LinkedIn job postings are actually Easy Apply?
Based on LinkedIn’s own search filters, Easy Apply jobs make up a significant portion of all listings. Depending on the industry, job level, and location, studies and spot checks show that between 35 and 50 percent of active LinkedIn postings at any time are Easy Apply. For example, a search for "Marketing Manager" jobs across the US in June 2024 returned about 95,000 total jobs, and just over 41,000 of those were Easy Apply, or roughly 43 percent. In tech roles, the percentage is often higher. In healthcare, it tends to be lower, sometimes just 20 to 30 percent.
Third-party analyses (like those from Sonara, Jobscan, and user-run subreddits) have confirmed similar numbers. While it fluctuates week-to-week, the 35-50 percent range is a realistic, data-driven estimate for most US white-collar sectors (see: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/).
Why Do So Many Jobs Use LinkedIn Easy Apply?
Employers choose Easy Apply for a mix of convenience and reach. When a company posts a job on LinkedIn, they can either send candidates to their own external career portal or let applicants use LinkedIn’s built-in application form. Easy Apply means more candidates with less friction, especially for roles with high turnover or urgent needs.
Recruiters want volume, and Easy Apply delivers. According to LinkedIn’s own reports, jobs that use Easy Apply receive up to 3 times more applications in the first week than those that require leaving the platform. This is especially true for entry- and mid-level roles, where employers may value fast screening over lengthy custom questionnaires.
- Small and mid-sized companies, which may not have their own applicant tracking systems, often use Easy Apply by default.
- Recruiters filling contract roles or urgent backfills tend to prefer Easy Apply for the fastest possible candidate flow.
- Some industries (tech, marketing, sales) have higher Easy Apply usage than others (healthcare, government, education).
For job seekers, this means Easy Apply jobs are more likely to be open to a wide range of backgrounds, and less likely to filter you out with complex forms at the first step. But it also means more competition per job, since more people can apply in less time.
How to Find and Filter Easy Apply Jobs on LinkedIn
If you want to focus your efforts on Easy Apply listings, LinkedIn’s search filters make it relatively simple. The process is straightforward but not always obvious at first glance. Here’s how to do it, step by step:
- Go to LinkedIn Jobs and enter your target job title, location, and any other filters you want (such as remote or hybrid).
- Once results load, look for the "All Filters" button (usually at the top or side of the page). Click it.
- In the filter menu, find the "Easy Apply" checkbox under "Application Options" and select it.
- Click "Show results." Your list will now only show jobs that can be applied to directly through LinkedIn’s form.
You can further refine your search by company, date posted, salary range, and more. One tip: Save your Easy Apply search as a job alert so you get notified as soon as new opportunities are posted. This is especially useful in competitive fields where Easy Apply jobs get flooded with applicants in the first 24 hours.
Remember that some jobs are labeled "Apply" but are still relatively fast, just routed through an external ATS (applicant tracking system). Easy Apply is the only filter that guarantees you stay within LinkedIn’s system the whole way through.
The Pros and Cons of Focusing on Easy Apply Jobs
Choosing to focus on Easy Apply jobs can change the way you approach your job search. For many job seekers, it is a tempting shortcut, but there are tradeoffs. Here is what you need to weigh:
- Speed: You can apply to 10 or more jobs in the time it takes to fill out one company portal application.
- Consistency: LinkedIn applications use the same set of questions and let you reuse your resume, making bulk applications easier.
- Broad reach: Many roles, especially in sales, marketing, tech, and operations, are open to Easy Apply candidates.
But there are downsides, too:
- High competition: Recruiters may receive 200+ applications for a single Easy Apply job within a few days.
- Less customization: Many Easy Apply jobs do not allow you to submit a custom cover letter or portfolio upfront.
- ATS limitations: Some employers still require you to fill out their own external forms after the initial LinkedIn screen, especially for senior or niche roles.
The bottom line: Easy Apply jobs are a huge time-saver, but you should not rely on them as your only strategy. Mix in targeted applications for jobs that are a strong fit, even if they require more effort.
How Appycan Handles Easy Apply Jobs Automatically
This is where automation tools can make a real difference. Appycan is a Chrome extension designed specifically for LinkedIn Easy Apply jobs. It auto-fills your answers to common questions, attaches your resume, and even crafts AI-generated cover letters on higher-tier plans. You pick your job filters (title, location, work style, salary, and companies to skip), then let Appycan run in the background while you go about your day.
- Works only with LinkedIn Easy Apply jobs (not external applications).
- Remembers your most frequent answers and reuses them to save time.
- Premium plans offer AI-generated long-form answers and custom cover letters, helping you stand out without extra manual work.
- Automatically resumes applying after LinkedIn’s daily application limit resets.
For users applying to dozens of jobs a week, automating Easy Apply can free up hours that would be lost to repetitive form-filling. It is especially helpful if you are targeting roles where volume matters, or if you are applying while working full-time and cannot afford to spend every evening on job boards.
Competitive Comparison: Appycan vs Sonara, JobCopilot, LazyApply, and LinkedIn Premium
Several tools claim to automate job applications, but most have key differences in approach, pricing, and reliability. Here is how Appycan stacks up against the biggest names:
Sonara
Sonara uses a mix of scraping and direct applications, supporting multiple job boards. It is more expensive, often $99+ per month, and is primarily focused on submitting as many applications as possible (sometimes with little customization). Many users report hit-or-miss results with external ATS systems, which are less standardized than LinkedIn’s Easy Apply.
JobCopilot and LazyApply
JobCopilot and LazyApply both offer bulk apply features across platforms, but they sometimes struggle with complex application flows outside of LinkedIn. Their browser automation can break if sites update their forms. Some users find the support limited and the pricing unpredictable. Both tools offer limited AI-powered answers, often at higher price points than Appycan’s Premium plan.
LinkedIn Premium
LinkedIn Premium does not automate applications. Instead, it offers InMail credits and access to more job insights. While it can help you spot jobs earlier, you still have to apply to each one manually. Premium is $39.99 per month, but does not include any automation or AI cover letters.