2026 to see sharp rise in demand for technology roles

A new report shows that the new year will bring plenty of demand for IT and technology talent.

Rapid AI growth driving tech jobs

With the UK technology sector now valued at £1.2 trillion, AI attracts nearly 30% of venture investment.

This is driving growth in areas such as cybersecurity, cloud engineering and data analytics – all of which are struggling with a short supply of professionals with the right skills.

As a result of this, IT roles are expected to see a significant rise in demand.

IT hiring on the up

According to data from Robert Half, over half (56%) of businesses plan to expand their permanent IT and technology teams in the first half of next year, marking an 11-percentage point increase on H2 2025.

Contractors are also well sought after, with 39% of businesses set to increase flexible technology resourcing in order to meet their rising project and transformation demands.

Commenting on the findings, Craig Freedberg, Regional Director at Robert Half, said, “The rise in IT and technology hiring reflects the critical role these functions now play at the centre of business strategy. Organisations are accelerating digital transformation, embedding AI, upgrading legacy systems and strengthening cyber resilience, all of which require highly skilled technical professionals.

“As demand rises across infrastructure, data, cybersecurity, software, and cloud engineering, companies are investing in both permanent teams and flexible project-based support to ensure they can deliver at pace.

“Demand for tech talent in the UK is showing signs of regaining momentum, and employers are already responding. The companies that prioritise attracting and retaining the right IT talent now will be best positioned to navigate regulatory change, manage organisational risk and unlock competitive advantage in 2026.”

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