What does the technology hiring market look like?
Among all sectors surveyed, technology leaders are hiring most aggressively in the second half of 2026. More than three-quarters (78%) plan to increase permanent headcount—up sharply from 61% earlier in the year—and 66% expect to bring in more contract professionals.
At the same time, 65% of technology hiring managers say finding skilled talent is more challenging than it was a year ago. Organizations are spending more on recruiting yet still struggling to staff the roles they need most.
How skills shortages are affecting teams
71% of technology leaders say skills shortages have caused project delays in the past year, and nearly half (49%) report that projects have been canceled entirely. The initiatives most affected are AI integration (64%), security of systems and information (60%), and software engineering and development (52%)—the ones organizations are counting on to stay competitive.
That percentage for AI integration is the highest recorded for projects impacted by skills shortages across all sectors in Robert Half's research. When you can't hire the people to build and deploy AI, the technology stalls and the competitive advantage everyone was banking on doesn't arrive.
What job posting trends show
Robert Half's analysis of U.S. job posting activity confirms that demand for technology talent remained strong through 2025. Employers posted nearly 1.1 million technology and IT jobs last year, with roles requiring in-demand AI skills showing the sharpest growth. AI, ML and data science roles totaled 49,200 postings in 2025, up 163% from 2024. Security roles reached 66,800 postings, up 124% year over year. Cybersecurity engineers alone accounted for 20,000 new job posts, a clear signal that security has become a top IT talent acquisition priority.
By industry, technology hiring was strongest in financial services and in manufacturing and distribution, each approaching 100,000 roles. Tech and IT firms continued to hire at scale, while consumer products companies expanded teams to strengthen digital platforms and security.
What unemployment rates suggest about the competition for skilled talent
Unemployment data reinforces how limited the available talent pool remains for many technology roles. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the following roles were among those with Q1 2026 unemployment rates well below the national rate of 4.3% for May 2026:
Network and systems administrators: 0.4%
Security analysts: 2.7%
Software developers: 3.1%
Systems managers: 3.6%
These low unemployment rates reflect a market where experienced technology professionals have options—and they know it. For employers, that reality often translates into longer searches; more negotiation on compensation, flexibility and role scope; and sustained competition for in-demand technology talent.
What tech and IT skills are in demand?
Technology leaders are prioritizing skills that keep systems secure while enabling AI and data initiatives. They're placing greater value on practical, end-to-end execution than on deep expertise with any single tool. And as AI touches more of the day-to-day work, human skills like critical thinking and adaptability matter more, not less.
Here are highlights from Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent report and job posting analysis.
In-demand tech skills in 2026
AI adoption
Automation workflows
Enterprise software apps
Governance
Product management
Software proficiencies in high demand
Apache Kafka
Databricks
Microsoft Azure
