Employers Chase AI Talent as Tech Hiring Grows
Randstad reports most organisations are expanding tech headcount as AI reshapes hiring demand across industries.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Job Search
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Randstad reported that 86 per cent of organisations are growing their tech headcount due to AI. Non-tech organisations are increasingly recruiting tech talent following tech sector layoffs, with 55 per cent hiring after such cuts.
Why it matters
Non-tech companies are outbidding traditional tech firms to secure talent, and postings requiring AI capabilities have grown more than fivefold over the past year. Organisations are closing skill gaps by buying, building and borrowing talent.
Randstad's findings show 86 per cent of organisations growing tech headcount due to AI, while 61 per cent of employers say finding human capabilities is harder than sourcing technical skills. The extraction does not indicate how long this demand will persist.
The players
Randstad
Randstad is a global human resources and staffing company whose survey data on tech hiring and AI-driven talent demand is the basis of this report.
The details
Women account for 31 per cent of professionals with emerging AI skills and 36 per cent of those with established tech skills, while Gen Z women make up 32 and 37 per cent respectively. Risk governance demand doubled (+108 per cent) while talent supply grew 69 per cent, and 92 per cent of organisations use digital talent marketplaces, with 42 per cent relying on them as their primary channel.
Timeline
Over the past year, AI-capability job postings grew more than fivefold.
Following tech sector layoffs, non-tech organisations began recruiting tech talent.
Nearshore regional hubs are expected to be the top delivery model over the next two years (35 per cent).
Market Landscape
Non-tech sectors such as banking and healthcare are now bidding against software firms for AI-skilled workers, a shift in competitive dynamics documented in Randstad's survey. This repositions talent acquisition as a cross-industry contest rather than one confined to technology employers.
Job seekers with AI and software skills may find more openings across banking and healthcare, not just in tech companies. Non-tech employers offering higher median pay for software engineers suggests stronger negotiating leverage for qualified candidates.
The takeaway
Building AI and human-facing skills together appears to be what employers now value most, since 61 per cent report human capabilities are harder to find than technical ones. Candidates who pair technical training with communication and judgement may be best positioned.
Further reading
Explore more on Job Search to see how employers are approaching today's competitive talent market.
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