LinkedIn, the world´s largest professional social network, announced on Monday that its UK user base has broken the 10 million mark, suggesting that four in five British employees are now using the platform.
LinkedIn was launched in 2003 and is estimated to have around 175 million users globally. The network is specifically designed to connect professionals from various sectors and is considered among the most popular social networks worldwide. Its UK members have tripled in just three years, as there were three million members back in 2009.
Commenting on the announcement, Ariel Eckstein, LinkedIn European managing director, says that the vast majority of UK workers consider the network an important part of their professional development. Profiles are updated and opinions are shared on a daily basis, thus contributing to better understanding and relations with business partners, employers, colleagues and investors, Eckstein adds.
There are currently 8,000 groups on LinkedIn that connect UK professionals and allow them to share content and discuss business issues. The UK recruitment industry is among those that benefit the most from the social platform, as users can provide detailed information on their skills and work experience, allowing employers to compare and monitor industry trends.
While other social networks like Twitter and Facebook in particular have far more members, it is worth noting that LinkedIn has practically no competitors, especially in the UK, where the number of users can only grow, the LinkedIn announcement says.