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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Tech hiring for the next quarter is steady compared to a year ago.
- AI may be driving much of the continuing demand for tech talent.
- Those demands might be driving a rise in contract work.
The conventional wisdom is that artificial intelligence is gutting our workforce, both technical and non-technical. So far, there is little evidence that the job apocalypse is taking place. If anything, the need for people to build AI systems and to keep them honest is keeping hiring for both full-time tech professionals and contract workers relatively robust.
Two recent surveys, from ManpowerGroup and UpWork, paint a relatively positive picture for tech-related hiring for both jobs and gigs for the past month and the upcoming quarter. Manpower’s Experis group says the IT hiring picture slipped by a couple of percentage points, but nothing dramatic. UpWork says it is tracking a rise in demand for contracted skills in project management and localization, likely associated with artificial intelligence projects. AI skills in demand include Python, video editing, and graphic design.
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Close to half of tech employers globally, 48%, plan to hire this quarter (Q4), according to a survey of 6,533 IT employers across 42 countries by Experis. The US tech sector has one of the strongest hiring outlooks globally, with a majority of tech employers, 58%, planning to increase headcount during this quarter. Only 11% indicated they plan to cut back.
While US tech hiring cooled very slightly compared to the same period last year, it “remains one of the labor market’s bright spots,” according to the survey’s authors. US tech hiring remains relatively steady, declining only two percentage points from 60% in Q4 a year ago.
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AI work is driving the trend — nearly one in four employers (24%) say they are hiring specifically to keep pace with digital advancements such as AI, the Experis survey shows. “The real challenge is the skills mismatch, and companies know they need to invest in the right talent to stay competitive,” according to a statement from Kye Mitchell, president of Experis US.
The challenge remains finding qualified talent to fill growing technology needs, as reported by 41% of tech and IT employers. Improving the candidate experience (37%) and filling complex roles (36%) follow close behind.
Notably, the study reveals a modest uptick in planned hiring in IT services, rising from 49% to 52%, with software hiring holding steady. There likely will be a slump in hiring within the semiconductor sector, from 45% to 34% planning to hire.
Plans for increased hiring in Q4 (compared to Q4 plans one year ago)
Job Category
Q4 2025
Q4 2024
IT Services
52%
49%
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
47%
55%
Software
52%
51%
Communications Equipment
43%
40%
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
35%
40%
IT Manufacturing
47%
45%
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
34%
45%
Other IT Sub-Industry
37%
35%
For job seekers with in-demand digital skills, this sustained hiring momentum creates significant opportunities — particularly in areas like AI implementation, cloud migration, and cybersecurity, where employers are prioritizing long-term transformation.
When it comes to gig, contract, or freelance work, Upwork’s latest hiring trends report finds businesses are tapping contract talent to provide oversight and quality assurance as they move deeper into AI. UpWork reports it drew data from the past month, looking at more than a million US job posts on Upwork’s marketplace. The postings reflect “significant demand across types of work that require validation, deep context, and creative refinement to elevate AI outputs,” the report’s authors said.
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Of particular note has been the red-hot demand for project management skills seen among small to medium-sized businesses. This is “a telltale sign of organizational adaptation under AI pressures,” said Nicholas Bloom, a professor at Stanford University, pointing to the need for a “human infrastructure” to keep AI in line.
The contract skills that have been in demand include the following:
- Translation & localization +29%
- Project management +17% overall; and +102% among small to medium businesses
- Sales & marketing copywriting +12%
- Quality assurance testing +9%
- Digital marketing +9%
- Video & animation +8%
UpWork also documented the top in-demand AI-related skills over the past month, which include Python, video editing, ChatGPT, AI-generated video, and virtual assistance. Interestingly, data entry services — long thought to be a vanishing need — have seen a resurgence in demand. “This demand for foundational human skills shows that businesses’ focus is shifting,” said Teng Liu, economist for the Upwork Research Institute.
Top 10 Most In-Demand AI-Related Skills in September 2025:
- Python
- Video editing
- Graphic design
- ChatGPT
- AI-generated video (new)
- Machine learning
- Virtual assistance (new)
- Content writing (new)
- Data entry (new)
- Adobe Illustrator (new)
