Employer Demand for Tech Talent Surges to Three-Year High
News related to:CompTIA · 2 min read
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Oct. 2, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Employer demand for technology talent has reached a three-year high, according to a new analysis by CompTIA. In September, new job postings for IT occupations increased by 16% year over year, with a total of 272,040 new openings. Active job postings climbed to 625,633, the highest total in more than three years. Compared with September 2025, new IT job postings and active postings rose 22.4%, reflecting sustained employer demand for workers with IT skills.
The analysis shows that six out of ten industries tracked by CompTIA recorded month-over-month increases in tech job postings. However, employment in the technology sector declined by an estimated 10,350 positions in September, with tech occupation employment across all industries falling by roughly 6,000 positions. Unemployment for tech workers edged up to 3.3%, below the national rate of 4.2%. Over seven million individuals are employed in tech occupations.
Software developers and engineers remained the most sought-after technology professionals in September, with employers posting 47,598 new openings, up 8.3% from August. Systems engineers ranked second, followed by tech support specialists, data analysts, and DevOps engineers. Overall, 23 of the 30 highest-volume technology occupations recorded month-over-month gains in job postings.
Active job postings requiring AI-related skills totaled 349,821, an increase of 32,327 postings from August. Since May 2024, active postings requiring AI-related skills have increased by approximately 282%. At the same time, employer demand for dedicated AI and machine learning occupations continues to grow. Active postings within CompTIA's AI/ML job titles group reached 13,636 in September, nearly triple the level recorded in May 2024.
The "CompTIA Tech Jobs Report" is available at https://www.comptia.org/en-us/resources/research/tech-jobs-report/.
This analysis by CompTIA highlights the ongoing demand for IT professionals, particularly in the areas of software development, cybersecurity, and data analysis. The report also underscores the growing importance of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the tech job market. Employers are increasingly seeking workers with AI-related skills, with a significant increase in job postings in this area.