Are you thinking about setting out on a new career in IT? Find out what key Information Technology employment trends are affecting the jobs market for professionals in 2026.
The IT sector is currently undergoing a period of significant change, with rapid AI adoption, heightened cyber security demands and ongoing digital transformation reshaping how organisations hire and what they look for in candidates. For experienced professionals, this presents fresh opportunities to advance their careers, while making the sector increasingly attractive to those considering a career change into IT.
Staying aware of the key Information Technology employment trends can stand you in good stead if you’re looking for a new role. Understanding the pain points employers are trying to solve will help you get noticed by recruiters, impress in interviews and secure some of the most interesting, high-paying roles available.
Digital transformation remains a top priority for organisations across the UK. IDC reports that worldwide IT spending grew 14 per cent last year to $4.25 trillion (£3.13 trillion), the fastest year of growth since 1996, with a further ten per cent rise forecast for 2026. The rapid rise of AI adoption, growing cyber security threats and continued cloud migration are all fuelling demand for skilled IT professionals, particularly those with proven expertise in high-impact specialisms.
This sustained demand is having a clear impact on pay. One study by Totaljobs found that UK median advertised pay rose 7.5 per cent year-on-year in 2025, with strong demand for technical, data and AI expertise one of the largest drivers of this. What’s more, 66 per cent of tech workers received a pay rise in the past 12 months, further reflecting demand for these skills and helping boost average IT salaries in the UK.
Demand for IT talent runs across every sector, but a handful of industries are hiring particularly aggressively in 2026. Areas where tech skills have the strongest demand include:
Roles such as AI engineer, cloud architect, cyber security analyst, data engineer and DevOps engineer are among the most actively recruited in 2026. To stand out, candidates need to demonstrate the technical capabilities that underpin them, with important skills to have on a CV including:
The pandemic transformed expectations around where work happens, with IT roles among the biggest beneficiaries. Hybrid and fully remote positions became widely available across software, cloud, cyber and data specialisms. More recently, the trend across the economy as a whole has begun to shift the other way, with the British Chambers of Commerce noting that 41 per cent of UK businesses increased their onsite working requirements in the past year, with 48 per cent expecting all working days to be in person over the next 12 months.
Despite this, opportunities for skilled IT professionals remain strong. For example, research from HR technology firm Ravio shows 85 per cent of UK tech companies offered hybrid working in 2025, with almost four out of ten (39 per cent) having fully remote positions. This opens up great options for candidates outside the traditional tech hubs to secure strong-paying jobs.
One area where there have been big changes in recent years is IR35, which determines whether contractors operating through their own limited company are taxed as employees (inside IR35) or as genuinely self-employed (outside IR35). Since 2021, responsibility for that decision has sat with medium and large end clients in the private sector.
The impact of this on IT contractors is now becoming clearer. According to IPSE, the proportion of engagements classed as outside IR35 fell to 70 per cent in 2025, down from 80 per cent the year before. Despite this, demand remains healthy, with APSCo’s August 2025 Hiring Trends report finding that contract roles in professional staffing rose 11 per cent year-on-year, even as permanent vacancies declined. The research noted this shows that demand for high-level skills persists, even as employers are cautious about long-term employment commitments.
With employers competing for specialist skills, candidates who present themselves well can stand out quickly. Some practical tips to bear in mind include:
Ready to take the next step? Browse the latest IT vacancies or upload your CV on SecurityClearedJobs.com today.
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