Nearly half of UK employers are hiring more tech workers
Key Points
- 47% of UK employers plan to grow permanent tech teams before year-end
- A further 25% are expanding contract and project-based tech hiring
- Cyber security (54%) and agentic AI (50%) are the most in-demand skills
- 38% of tech workers spend more time checking AI-generated work
- 53% say AI has cut the time they spend on routine tasks
Recruitment firm Robert Half found that 47% of UK employers plan to grow their permanent tech teams before year-end.
A further 25% of UK employers are expanding their contract and project-based tech hiring, according to the survey.
Cyber security topped the list of skills employers want, and AI took the next two spots. The most in-demand technology skills were:
- Cyber security (54%)
- Agentic AI use (50%)
- Generative AI solutions (48%)
- Cloud (44%)
- Business intelligence (44%)
Robert Half said technology remains a bright spot in the UK labour market, even as employers take a more cautious approach to hiring elsewhere.
“Businesses continue to invest heavily in cyber security, cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence, but they’re not simply looking for more people,” said Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director, UK & Ireland at Robert Half.
“They’re looking for professionals with the right blend of technical expertise, commercial understanding and the ability to work effectively alongside AI,” Weston added.
AI is changing tech roles
The firm said AI is changing the nature of most tech roles rather than cutting demand for skilled tech workers.
Of the UK tech professionals surveyed, 45% said their employers now expect them to develop new AI-related skills.
Another 38% said they now spend more time checking and validating work generated by AI tools.
Just over half (53%) said AI has cut the time they spend on routine tasks, and 37% said their roles have become more strategic.
“AI is automating some tasks, but it isn’t replacing the need for skilled technology talent. In many cases, it’s making those skills even more valuable,” said Weston.
Robert Half expects competition for cyber security, AI and cloud specialists to stay strong as cyber threats evolve and businesses spend more on AI.
An independent research firm ran the survey for Robert Half in June 2026, covering 500 hiring managers and 1,000 professionals across six fields, including technology.
