The tech job market has faced many challenges over the last couple of years. Although the situation is still shaky, things are starting to look bright again. The market is set to improve and solidify as the demand for jobs takes an upward trend.
However, this won’t be a return to the glory days of the dot-com bubble. Companies are more prudent now and focus on finding multi-skilled employees who can juggle multiple tasks, including AI and smart technologies.
So, what does this mean for regular tech workers? Should you worry? Keep reading to find out how the tech job market may evolve this year and what you can do to stay relevant.
The Current State of the Tech Job Market
The tech job market went through several ups and downs in the last 5 years. The convergence of a worldwide pandemic with the emergence of easily accessible AI and smart technologies has caused several shifts.
We’ve seen tech professionals adjust to work-from-home life, return to the office, and be laid off because of AI-powered systems. It’s safe to say these have been difficult years for both professionals and companies.
Only last year (in 2024), big tech companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta (to name a few) laid off over 10% of their staff. Even 2025 started with some major layoffs in the industry. The reason, this time, is clearly AI — around 41% of companies across industries said they’ll work on thinning their workforce over the next few years because of smart technologies.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. The data pinpoints a new wave of positive changes, with over 200,000 new jobs at tech companies, startups, and unicorns. This is an 18% increase compared to the start of the year.
Will AI Take My Job?
This fear is not new. I remember people worrying that technology would render their jobs redundant ever since I first stepped foot into the workforce back in 2010. In a way, it’s a part of life — new technologies optimize and automate processes, reducing manual load.
But what will happen with AI if the technology can take over more than good old boring and repetitive tasks? Many knowledge workers fear they’ll be replaced, never to be hired again.
Still, the situation is more nuanced than this. The technology you worry about may replace some aspects of your job, but it also creates new and exciting opportunities. Recently, there has been a surge in demand in fields like cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI.
Companies look for well-rounded employees with a multi-skill portfolio who understand how these technologies fit in the grand scheme of things. So, the best move for anyone working in the tech industry is to upskill.
Extra tip: If the worst comes to pass and you are laid off, you should focus on learning artificial intelligence and smart technologies.
The Shift Towards Multi-Skilled Developers
Nowadays, businesses prioritize versatility over specialization. In short, they would rather pay more for a capable professional who can handle multiple tasks than hire several specialists. With AI-powered tools taking care of the basics, companies need people who can supervise and intervene when and where necessary.
It’s also a way to cover areas with a skill shortage. For instance, cybersecurity is a field in dire need of multi-skilled professionals who can adjust to change on the go. The industry needs over 4 million people worldwide, but only about 2 million experts meet the current standards.
To cover this gap, many big companies prefer to train in-house employees who are accustomed to internal processes and can be trusted. Add to this a few basic AI skills, and the result is a well-adjusted professional with a future-proof set of skills.
Having a multi-skilled team is also a competitive advantage, as it means the company can offer a wider range of services and solutions to its clients.
As Molly Ancel, Managing Partner at Peerpoint Property Solutions, said: “It’s also about valuing every employee’s potential. It’s more cost-efficient to hire, train, and retain indispensable personnel who are multi-skilled and cultivate a sense of intrapreneurship.”
Key Skills Companies Are Looking For
To make yourself stand out from the crowd of tech professionals looking for a job or a career change, you need a combination of soft and hard skills. Look to increase your knowledge in fields like AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, but also focus on communication, leadership, and problem-solving.
Here is a list of some of the most in-demand skills for this year:
Proficiency in AI algorithms, deep learning, and natural language processing;
Expertise in risk assessment, penetration testing, and cryptography.
Skills in managing platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud;
The ability to analyze and interpret large datasets to inform business decisions;
A deep understanding of the background operations for web apps, pages, and SEO;
Proficiency in languages such as Python, Java, or C++ remains fundamental for many tech roles.
Regarding soft skills, the most sought-after skills are adaptability and openness to change, a commitment to ongoing education, and the capacity to collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
Brandy Hastings, SEO Strategist at SmartSites, gave a great depiction of what is expected of today’s developers: “We need developers who can work on all of the different layers of the website, since page speed and overall user experience are important ranking factors in organic search. Well-rounded developers provide businesses with many more opportunities and advantages.”
Career Pathways & Industries That Need Multi-Skilled Developers
As a multi-skilled developer, you are proficient in various programming languages, tools, and methodologies. This makes you a valuable asset for any company in the industry of your choice, so you won’t ever have to worry about job security (within reason, of course).
However, the stack of skills you need will differ from one career path to another. Here are a few examples:
Full Stack Development
This position requires expertise in front-end and back-end development and a comprehensive understanding of the entire web development process. You will work closely with designers, product managers, and other stakeholders to understand the requirements and deliver solutions.
Therefore, besides the tech knowledge, tools, and methodologies required for this job, you also need good communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills. It’s also recommended to have a T-shaped approach to education and have knowledge of other programming languages or frameworks besides your main stack.
Say you specialize in Python. While this is a highly valued skill, you can stand out from the crowd of Python developers by adding knowledge of automation scripting tools like Ansible or Terraform to your skill toolkit.
Companies want specialists who can adjust the stack when a project adopts a new technology. Moreover, such specialists will minimize the dependencies on other teams and provide better estimations for Gantt charts. So having multi-skill developers will greatly contribute to timely releases, which is critical for agile environments.
While the position is quite complex, it does bring plenty of professional and financial satisfaction (the average salary is $120,861 per year or $58.11 per hour).
DevOps Engineering
DevOps engineers bridge the gap between development and operations. It is a great career path if you like conflict resolution and feel confident in your communication skills. The average salary is around $110,300 per year, but there are plenty of opportunities to up your earnings if you work for a big company.
Most big companies today operate globally, and understand the need to invest in innovation to compete worldwide. Let’s take an accounting firm in New York that operates a contact center performance management in India. This is only possible due to today’s technology and a hefty initial investment needed to overhaul the old system.
However, such a platform needs long-term upkeep, which is where highly skilled developers, with a solid set of skills, come in.
Data Engineering
The job focuses on building and maintaining the infrastructure and systems that enable the collection, processing, and analysis of data.
Since all companies use real-time data to make decisions, the position comes with an increased level of responsibility. It’s your job to make sure company data is accessible, reliable, and secure.
You also need to be open to learning new things that may not necessarily be included in the job description. For instance, it helps to know how to scrape data from a website using something other than the usual tools.
The average pay is $126,200 per year, but you can go as high as $200,00 with a good set of skills.
Cloud Engineering
Cloud services are the platform that made software as a service (SaaS) possible. They are also behind various remote and collaboration platforms, which allow everyone to work from various corners of the world without confusion or misunderstanding.
For instance, if your company uses contract management software to streamline the process and reduce redundancies, they are also using a cloud service for connectivity and added safety. Behind every service that runs on the cloud, there is a team of engineers that design, implement, and manage the infrastructure.
The average salary is over $130,00 per year, and I think it’s one of the best options in tech right now (besides AI or ML).
Machine Learning Engineer
With an average salary of over $163,800 annually, this is one of the most exciting opportunities in the tech market. As an ML engineer, you design, develop, and deploy ML models that power AI systems.
You also work closely with data scientists to translate complex models into scalable, real-world applications. So, besides standard ML knowledge and experience, this role also demands strong programming abilities, a deep understanding of algorithms, and proficiency in data engineering.
AI Solutions Architect
Around 72% of executives plan to embrace AI this year, so the job of AI Solutions Architect is in high demand. A regular Solutions Architect makes around $146,800/year on average, but if you add AI into the mix, the pay can go as high as $210,000 a year.
The job involves designing and implementing AI solutions customized to specific business needs. In addition to experience with various AI frameworks, you need the skills to assess organizational requirements, select appropriate technologies, and oversee the integration of AI systems.
Wrap-Up: Position Yourself for Success
The future of the tech job market belongs to multi-skilled developers who understand the importance of a diverse skill set. To stay relevant and thrive, focus on upskilling through online courses, bootcamps, and certifications.
Build a strong network in the industry and get involved in as many diverse projects as possible. Things are moving upward slowly, and you want to be prepared when the hiring boom gets full force!
