LinkedIn Jobs vs USAJOBS API for AI agents
LinkedIn documents no public job search API; its jobs API is for approved partners (ATS systems, job distributors) to post jobs to LinkedIn, and it is closed to new partners. USAJOBS API is the official REST API for searching public U.S. federal government job announcements on USAJOBS.
The short answer
- LinkedIn Jobs: ATS vendors and job distributors that already partner with LinkedIn and need to publish jobs to it; not for finding jobs.
- USAJOBS API: Authoritative, reusable data on U.S. federal government job openings.
Side by side
| LinkedIn Jobs | USAJOBS API | |
|---|---|---|
| Searches | Not a search API: it posts jobs into LinkedIn on behalf of customers. | Public job announcements posted on USAJOBS (status/internal jobs need extra steps); a single employer-side source, not an aggregator. |
| Returns | – | JSON SearchResult items with PositionTitle, PositionURI, ApplyURI, OrganizationName, PositionLocation (with lat/long) and PositionRemuneration. |
| Before the first call | LinkedIn approval, a signed API agreement with data restrictions, and Talent Solutions partner status; currently not accepting new partnerships (points to Apply Connect instead). | An API key requested through an application form (name, email, phone, organization, intended use); calls send Host, User-Agent (your email) and Authorization-Key headers. |
| Acting on a result | – | PositionURI/ApplyURI point to the announcement on usajobs.gov. |
| Limits on keeping or showing results | LinkedIn API Terms forbid caching or storing Content except as needed to run your application, and bar content obtained by scraping or crawling outside the APIs. | Public Data may be copied, stored, republished and used commercially; attribution to USAJOBS is encouraged, not required; don't present modified data as official. Max 10,000 rows per query, 500 per page. |
| Coverage | – | United States federal government jobs (in the U.S. and abroad). |
| MCP server | – | No official server listed |
Where Openpath fits
If the agent needs a job to apply for in Austin, Texas, or a remote one, Openpath returns the listings themselves, free and with no key. See Openpath vs LinkedIn Jobs and Openpath vs USAJOBS API.
Questions people ask
What do I need before I can use USAJOBS API?
An API key requested through an application form (name, email, phone, organization, intended use); calls send Host, User-Agent (your email) and Authorization-Key headers.
Is USAJOBS API free?
Its pages listed no free use when we read them on October 15, 2026.
Sources
Every line about another company comes from its own pages. Prices and terms change, so check the source before you rely on one.
LinkedIn Jobs, read on October 15, 2026:
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/linkedin/talent/job-postings/api/overview: “We are currently not accepting new partnerships for LinkedIn's Job Posting API.”
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/linkedin/talent/job-postings/api/overview: “enables authorized third parties such as clients, ATS systems, and job distributors to post jobs directly to LinkedIn”
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/linkedin/talent/job-postings/api/overview: “The use of these APIs is restricted to those developers approved by LinkedIn.”
- linkedin.com/legal/l/api-terms-of-use: “You must not capture, copy, cache, or store any Content”
- linkedin.com/legal/l/api-terms-of-use: “scraping, crawling, spidering or using any other technology or software to access LinkedIn content outside the APIs”
USAJOBS API, read on October 15, 2026:
- developer.usajobs.gov/guides/authentication: “To request an API Key, please go the the API Request page and fill out an application.”
- developer.usajobs.gov/apirequest: “Only public job information is available through this site.”
- developer.usajobs.gov/guides/rate-limiting: “Maximum of 10,000 rows per query”
- developer.usajobs.gov/guides/terms-of-service: “Public Data may be copied, stored, reformatted, adapted, analyzed, published, redistributed, and used for lawful commercial”
- developer.usajobs.gov/guides/terms-of-service: “OPM encourages users to identify USAJOBS as the source, link to the current official job announcement”
- developer.usajobs.gov/api-reference/get-api-search: “URI to apply for the job offering.”
- usajobs.gov/HiringPath/Public: “the official employment site for the federal government”