Tactical advice for the AI era of recruiting. Learn how to optimize your resume, ace interviews, and negotiate higher offers.

When a good month hits — as one did in March, with 178,000 jobs added — expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts decline and the bond market shudders a little. But this month was just the flipside of the previous month. And even the one-month spurt in job creation is less striking when you look at the totality of the labour market data that came in last week: job openings remain soft, the hiring rate is weak, and wage growth slowed. The picture is still stable but utterly devoid of dynamism or, in a single word, sludgy. [...] ## More of the same on jobs

While upgrading isn't new, Orsuga said that 2025 was the biggest year he's seen for the trend in more than two decades in the recruiting world. He calls it "bullseye hiring." "It's like every seat matters, so I've got to hit a bullseye and get the right person in the right seat," he said. Hiring has slowed in the US recently, due to economic uncertainty, cost-cutting, and AI adoption. In February, the hiring rate fell to 3.1% — a modern low matched only by the pandemic and early recovery from the Great Recession. Three recruiters across tech, marketing, and logistics said that when companies do hire, it can come at the expense of an existing employee. [...] Companies are replacing lower-performing workers with stronger talent to boost performance. It’s one way businesses are optimizing their workforces as hiring budgets tighten. The trend is playing out from early-career roles to the C-suite. AI-generated summary Summaries are generated by an AI model trained on Business Insider's articles. AI may make mistakes or provide inaccurate/incomplete information. We're unable to load that answer right now. Please try again. With hiring budgets constrained, some companies are finding a different way to bring in talent: replacing workers with better ones. [...] For mid-level roles, he said companies use a mix of headhunters and job postings. Some are required to post roles externally for compliance reasons, he said, and because many employees share similar titles, a new posting can signal growth rather than a looming replacement. Orsuga added that some companies are "always hiring" — bringing on new talent not necessarily to grow headcount, but to replace lower-performing workers over time.That dynamic can disproportionately affect early-career workers, who may find themselves competing with annual cohorts of new graduates.

Check out this chart, which shows open software engineering roles globally. The chart starts in late 2022, when ChatGPT emerged and started the generative AI revolution. The line goes the opposite way you would expect, given all the hand-wringing over AI lately. The recovery follows a steep correction in 2022 and early 2023, when tech companies slashed hiring after over-expanding during the pandemic boom. Rising interest rates and a shift toward profitability forced companies to freeze hiring and cut staff. Now, hiring is rebounding as firms invest heavily in AI, which, ironically, requires large numbers of engineers. [...] Data from TrueUp, a tech hiring analytics firm, shows more than 67,000 software engineering job openings, the highest level in over three years. Listings have roughly doubled since a trough in mid-2023. The most striking number for me: So far this year, the number of open roles has jumped about 30%. TrueUp tracks jobs at tech companies (rather than all types of businesses that may need tech workers), so the impact of AI should be felt even more strongly in this data. "A lot of the 'AI is replacing engineers' narrative isn't grounded in job posting data — at least not so far," Amit Taylor, founder of TrueUp, told me this week. [...] A version of this story originally appeared in the BI Tech Memo newsletter. Sign up for the weekly BI Tech Memo newsletter here. AI-generated summary Summaries are generated by an AI model trained on Business Insider's articles. AI may make mistakes or provide inaccurate/incomplete information. We're unable to load that answer right now. Please try again. The US jobs report on Friday was surprisingly strong. That's not the only part of the job market that's doing better than expected. Tech job openings have rebounded sharply in 2026, challenging the popular narrative that AI is wiping out engineering roles.

An analysis of recent layoffs across various sectors and what they mean for job seekers, including actionable tips for navigating job changes.

For more perspective, an analysis of more than 7 million U.S. tech job postings by career website Dice and its data partner Lightcast reinforces the trend. AI Engineer postings grew 208% in 2025, while Machine Learning Engineer roles rose 52%. Meanwhile, all 50 of the most-posted tech job titles showed salary growth of 3% or higher. At the same time, traditional roles are contracting. Software Development Engineer postings fell 16%. Java Developer declined 4%. Business Systems Analyst dropped 10%, according to Dice data. [...] “Companies are moving from early exploration to practical implementation, which is creating steady demand for multidisciplinary technologists,” Atahan told HR Executive in an email. He noted that even with high-profile layoffs in parts of the tech sector, unemployment for core IT skills remains significantly below the national average. The Dice data shows postings requiring workflow management skills surged 49%, as organizations embed AI into existing processes. Cloud infrastructure skills continued to climb, with Microsoft Azure up 23%, Docker up 29% and Python up 18%, driven largely by AI and data science applications. Read more: How top HR teams choose which hiring problems to solve ## What tech hiring realities mean for HR leaders [...] ## The data backs up the hiring vibe IBM’s announcement lands alongside fresh hiring data. Job postings for AI-related roles increased more than 50% in January, with software developer positions requiring AI skills growing at an even faster pace, according to data from ManpowerGroup’s Experis division, which specializes in tech talent. Overall, IT postings rose 15% and software developer postings climbed 18%, according to Bekir Atahan, vice president at tech talent firm Experis Services.

Learn strategies to enhance your remote job applications in today's competitive market.

Those changes underscore the importance of data-driven decision-making. Real-time labor market indicators, such as those provided by Indeed, can help both employers and job seekers identify opportunities, in-demand skills, and how local conditions differ from national trends. Read Indeed's 2026 US Jobs & Hiring Trends Report at Indeed.com. This post was created by Insider Studios with Indeed. 1 Comscore, Total Visits, March 2024 2 Indeed data (worldwide), job seeker accounts that have a unique, verified email address 3 2026 US Jobs & Hiring Trends Report: How to Find Stability in Uncertainty, Indeed 4 CNN This Morning, CNN, November 20, 2025 5 AI at Work Report 2025: How GenAI is Rewiring the DNA of Jobs [...] ## State of the market Indeed connects more than 645 million job seekers2 with opportunities from over 3.3 million employers worldwide. That scale allows Indeed to track real-time trends in how people search for jobs, how employers compete for talent, and the impact of technology, including AI, on the world of work. These insights are compiled in regular reports by Indeed's in-house economists. For example, Indeed's 2026 Jobs & Hiring Trends Report predicts economic growth in 2026 will remain positive yet "anemic," testing the job market's resilience to economic uncertainties.3 [...] AI's potential impact is most visible in tech roles. Indeed's data shows that the share of tech job postings requiring at least 5 years of experience is growing6, even as experience requirements are softening in other areas. This could mean AI is doing more entry-level tech work, requiring higher-level human workers to oversee the output. It could also simply reflect broader economic conditions in which hiring overall in tech, for both junior and senior roles, is currently limited.

As industries adapt to AI technologies, job seekers must modify their skill sets. This guide provides insights on what skills are essential for landing jobs in the AI-driven economy.

## Company Announcements View all | Post a press release Zapier Survey Finds 98% of Executives Want Workers with AI Skills as Companies Race to Hire A… From Zapier February 25, 2026 HR and Finance Leaders Show Differing Perspectives on Employee Compensation From Bettercomp February 27, 2026 The Omnia Group Releases Talent Trends Report 2026 Highlighting the AI Acceleration vs. Talent… From The Omnia Group, Inc. February 25, 2026 BasiCare Plus Launches $9.90/Month Health Membership Designed to Help Employers Retain Part-Ti… From BasiCare Plus February 16, 2026 Editors’ picks ### 10 California employment law changes on tap for 2026 [...] Retention, more generally, is top of mind for employers this year, a recent Monster report said, with a little over half of employers surveyed saying it was their top workforce priority in 2026. Skills building is part of that strategy, though it is also an answer to an inability to find qualified candidates otherwise, per the report. Skills requirements, also, have been made especially volatile by the introduction of AI, a Lightcast report said. Many workforce strategies — which may not account for macroeconomic forces such as an aging population and decreased immigration — may be designed for “a world that no longer exists,” Lightcast noted. Add us on Google Share) + Copy link) + Email + LinkedIn + X/Twitter + Facebook + Print) purchase licensing rights [...] “This historic shift highlights a new era in the persistent global talent crisis,” ManpowerGroup said in its release, noting that 72% of employers report hiring difficulties, down only slightly from 74% last year. AI skills may in fact displace IT and data skills, the report showed; traditional IT skills fell to seventh place, below skills including AI literacy, sales and marketing, and manufacturing, “signaling a rapid realignment of strategic talent investment toward AI-driven capabilities,” a news release said.

I'm managing my expectations as I look for work. It seems like companies are tighter with headcount and more picky about who they want. There are definitely fewer positions. Companies are doing more with less. These agents are automating some tasks and are slowly improving at understanding concepts. The compensation is definitely lower. We're hearing across the industry that stock grants are lower than they used to be. Refresher grants are lower. Bonuses — if they exist. Once you get in, it's stack-ranked performance management. Your output is compared to your peers from day one. It's definitely tougher. You've got to check your ego. That might be the part people struggle with more than their technical ability. ## Separate your identity from your job [...] Now we have these tools, the industry expects you to move fast. You can shift your mindset from that rigid engineering, step-by-step, to more of an exploratory "attack the problem, solve it, refine it later." Don't get too trapped in the domain that you're working in. Block tended to hire specialists who could also generalize when needed. So, be flexible. Using these tools allows you to get context in areas that you might not have had the opportunity to work in. Do you have a story to share about tech layoffs? Contact this reporter at cmlee@businessinsider.com or on Signal at cmlee.81. as told to Layoffs ## Read next ### Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know ### Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know [...] Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? . A former Block engineer reflects on adjusting his expectations as he reenters a tougher job market. Isaac Casanova tells BI job seekers have to check their ego since companies are tightening head count. Software engineers need to be more of an experimenter and builder in the AI era, he said. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Isaac Casanova, who has worked at Block for nearly three years as a senior software engineer. It has been edited for length and clarity.

For more perspective, an analysis of more than 7 million U.S. tech job postings by career website Dice and its data partner Lightcast reinforces the trend. AI Engineer postings grew 208% in 2025, while Machine Learning Engineer roles rose 52%. Meanwhile, all 50 of the most-posted tech job titles showed salary growth of 3% or higher. At the same time, traditional roles are contracting. Software Development Engineer postings fell 16%. Java Developer declined 4%. Business Systems Analyst dropped 10%, according to Dice data. [...] “Companies are moving from early exploration to practical implementation, which is creating steady demand for multidisciplinary technologists,” Atahan told HR Executive in an email. He noted that even with high-profile layoffs in parts of the tech sector, unemployment for core IT skills remains significantly below the national average. The Dice data shows postings requiring workflow management skills surged 49%, as organizations embed AI into existing processes. Cloud infrastructure skills continued to climb, with Microsoft Azure up 23%, Docker up 29% and Python up 18%, driven largely by AI and data science applications. Read more: How top HR teams choose which hiring problems to solve ## What tech hiring realities mean for HR leaders [...] ## The data backs up the hiring vibe IBM’s announcement lands alongside fresh hiring data. Job postings for AI-related roles increased more than 50% in January, with software developer positions requiring AI skills growing at an even faster pace, according to data from ManpowerGroup’s Experis division, which specializes in tech talent. Overall, IT postings rose 15% and software developer postings climbed 18%, according to Bekir Atahan, vice president at tech talent firm Experis Services.

### Most clicked story of the week HR’s problems with talent acquisition may be largely self-inflicted, a recent trends report from Isolved revealed. Outdated hiring practices and a self-described lack of agility have stifled the department’s attempts to source talent and develop workers internally. Artificial intelligence-powered tools may be able to help HR adapt to the fast-moving environment, the report indicated. ### Number of the week: 6% The percentage of U.S. hiring managers surveyed by Robert Half who said they had the talent they needed to complete high-priority projects. Notably, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said that AI-generated resumes have made hiring more difficult. ### Quote of the Week [...] ### Editors’ picks ### HR outlook 2026: What to expect for the year ahead Professionals in the industry will shift from fragmentation to focus, sources predict. By Kate Tornone • Jan. 29, 2026 ### SHRM research finds ‘chasm’ emerging between supportive, unsupportive employers In response, HR departments told the organization they will prioritize leadership and management development this year. By Ryan Golden • Jan. 14, 2026 ### HR Dive news delivered to your inbox Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts ## Company Announcements View all | Post a press release Edustaff Acquires E-Therapy, Expanding Access to Integrated Education and Therapy Services From Edustaff LLC February 02, 2026 Flexible Work Expands as Broader Market Stabilizes [...] ### Quote of the Week The HR profession has had to pivot constantly to keep pace with ongoing talent shortages, rapid technological change, and the lingering effects of the pandemic. James Atkinson Vice president of thought leadership, SHRM A SHRM study released last week showed that demand for HR professionals is more than 20% below pre-pandemic levels as of December 2025. An uncertain job market amid economic volatility and tech disruption has seriously challenged the profession, the report said. Add us on Google Share) + Copy link) + Email + LinkedIn + X/Twitter + Facebook + Print) purchase licensing rights Filed Under: Talent ### HR Dive news delivered to your inbox Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts ### Editors’ picks

Sign up for newsletter Hannah Ross View articles · News Recruitment Age diversity # Workers aged 55 undesirable to employers, say 51% “Hiring across age brackets improves retention and your employer brand,” said Ray Wareing of recruitment firm Sellick Partnership - ©David Tett/Age without limits Around half (51%) of UK adults report that job applicants are undesirable to employers when they reach their mid-50s, according to poll findings published today (16 January) by the Centre for Ageing Better. The charity's survey of 4,000 UK adults also revealed that 36% believe employers stop viewing applicants as desirable by age 50 or younger; and 8% report that this happens as early as 40. [...] The group most likely to believe that candidates stop being seen as desirable by 50 or younger were respondents aged 45 to 54: 41% reported holding this view. Just 10% of members of the public do not think there is an age at which people stop being seen as a desirable candidate for employers to hire. Age bias in recruitment still occurs because some employers have “outdated ideas about cultural fit and productivity rather than focusing on skills and experience,” said Ray Wareing, group director and board sponsor for DEI at recruitment firm Sellick Partnership. Read more: The ageism audit: How can HR address ageism at work? [...] Wareing told HR magazine: “There’s a misconception that experience automatically means higher salary expectations, or that older workers won’t adapt to change. That outlook narrows talent pools and can occasionally penalise experienced candidates unfairly.” To ensure your company is age‑inclusive in its hiring, it’s important that hiring managers are “trained to recognise and reduce unconscious bias so that decisions focus on what a person can deliver, not when they were born,” Wareing said. To improve age-inclusive hiring, Tracy Riddell, senior programme manager for age-friendly employment at the Centre for Ageing Better, recommended that employers write job adverts that appeal to all ages, removing language and imagery that can deter older workers.

February 04, 2026 Editors’ picks Deep Dive ### ‘Fear’ and ‘chaos’ threaten employers’ 2026 immigration plans Even the attorneys to whom HR departments look for guidance are vexed by the Trump administration’s enforcement plan — which is expected to escalate. By Ryan Golden • Jan. 26, 2026 Opinion ### The CHRO paradox: Is HR’s top role as secure as we’d hope in 2026? The CHRO role is evolving fast, but not always in ways that align with its growing strategic importance, warns global industry analyst Josh Bersin. By Josh Bersin • Jan. 28, 2026 Latest in Talent Target cuts 500 roles, invests in store payroll By Dani James Nearly 7 in 10 workers say their skills aren’t being fully used By Ginger Christ The rise of work ‘situationships’ [...] But HR can often be sidelined from AI implementation, other surveys have said. Only 12% of survey respondents in Beamery’s report said CHROs were among the top influential decision-makers regarding AI. Additionally, HR practitioners still may not trust AI to make many workforce decisions, a January report from Avature showed. Respondents were more comfortable assigning the tools “repetitive, low-risk” tasks, the report said. Generally, employers are adjusting their hiring practices following the mass layoffs — and then massive rehirings — that occurred in the wake of the pandemic, experts told HR Dive. Employers now are turning to precision hiring, various reports indicate, all in the hunt for specific, high-demand skills. Add us on Google Share) [...] ### Dive Brief: While HR employment has grown at a much faster rate than overall employment over the last three decades, demand for HR workers is more than 20% below pre-pandemic levels as of December 2025, according to a report from SHRM, released Feb. 10. Job postings for HR positions tend to mention artificial intelligence and machine learning skills more often than the wider U.S. labor market, as well, SHRM said; 3.1% of HR job postings mentioned AI, compared to 2.3% of wider market postings. “Despite HR’s central role, the sector faces economic volatility, uncertain hiring environments, and technological disruption — notably from advanced AI tools designed to streamline HR functions,” SHRM said in a release. ### Dive Insight:

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