Technology hiring remains a priority as organisations strengthen digital capability and compete for specialist skills. In this quarterly update, we reveal the 10 most in-demand technology and IT jobs in Q3 2026, explore where employers are hiring, and look at what the latest hiring intentions and salary trends mean for organisations planning their technology teams.
Technology and IT hiring outlook
Technology is one of the strongest areas for planned recruitment. Nearly half (47%) of UK employers plan to increase permanent technology hiring, while 29% plan to increase contract hiring and 30% project-based hiring in the second half of 2026.
This points to continued investment in technology capability, with employers using a mix of permanent, contract and project-based talent to access the skills they need.
Specialist skills remain a priority
As organisations invest in technology, competition for specialist expertise remains an important consideration. The 2027 UK IT and Technology Salary Guide shows that 46% of IT and technology hiring managers are prepared to offer salaries above their planned ranges to secure top talent, with 78% citing specialised skills as a reason.
This points to a technology market where employers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for the capabilities they need most, rather than simply adding headcount. Skills that can support transformation, strengthen security, make better use of data or help organisations realise value from emerging technologies can therefore carry particular weight.
For technology leaders, this makes it increasingly important to identify which capabilities are critical to their plans, which can be developed internally and where specialist expertise needs to be brought into the business.
AI is changing the skills employers need
AI is also changing the skills mix. Employers continue to value professionals who can combine technical expertise with critical thinking, communication and business judgement.
According to the data, 45% of UK technology professionals say they are now expected to develop new AI-related skills, highlighting how AI is reshaping the capabilities required within existing roles.
The challenge is therefore not simply finding AI expertise, but identifying people who can use emerging tools effectively and translate their technical capabilities into wider business value.
Top 10 most in-demand technology and IT jobs in the UK: Q3 2026
Technology hiring is not being driven by one area alone. Demand is evident across project and product leadership, data, engineering and infrastructure, reflecting the range of capabilities employers need as their technology priorities evolve. The latest Q3 rankings highlight the roles attracting the greatest demand.
IT Project Manager: IT Project Manager remains the most in-demand technology role in Q3. Demand increased 55% year on year, while strong hiring activity across digital transformation and project services points to continued demand for professionals who can lead complex technology change.IT Support Manager: IT Support Manager ranks second, reflecting continued demand for professionals who can maintain reliable technology environments and support users as organisations expand their digital capabilitiesLead Engineer: Lead Engineer ranks third, with demand rising 61% year on year. With software development and testing also among the largest areas of technology recruitment, experienced engineering talent continues to feature prominently in employers' hiring plans.Senior Business Analyst: Senior Business Analyst stands out as one of Q3's biggest movers, with demand 117% higher year on year, the strongest annual increase among the Top 10. The growth points to increased hiring activity for professionals who can connect technology projects with wider business requirements.Product Manager: Product Manager completes the top 5 most in-demand technology roles, reflecting employers’ need for professionals who can connect technology development with customer needs and commercial priorities. As organisations continue to develop and improve digital products, that combination of technical understanding and strategic oversight remains valuable.Data Engineer: Data Engineer continues to feature among the most in-demand roles, reflecting the importance of strong data foundations as organisations develop their analytics and AI capabilities.Infrastructure Engineer: Infrastructure Engineer is a new entrant to the Top 10 for Q3 and recorded one of the sharpest increases in demand, rising 95% year on year. Cloud and infrastructure was also the second-largest technology job category by volume, reinforcing the strength of recruitment in this area.Full-stack Developer: Versatility is the key lure of this role, which works through every layer of an application to deliver end-to-end product ownership — particularly attractive for SMEs who may not have the budget for a full development team.DevOps Engineer: DevOps Engineer retains its place in the top 10 most in-demand technology roles, reflecting the continued need for expertise that brings software development and IT operations closer together.Systems Engineer: Systems Engineer is the second new entrant to the Q3 Top 10, with demand increasing 65% year on year. Its arrival alongside Infrastructure Engineer adds further weight to the strong recruitment activity seen across systems, cloud and infrastructure-focused roles.
The top 10 is based on Robert Half analysis of UK job-posting volumes and is updated quarterly to reflect changes in hiring demand.
Read: The highest-paying tech jobs in the UK
Which industries are competing for technology talent?
Competition for technology talent extends well beyond the IT sector, with businesses across a diverse range of industries recruiting for technology skills.
ITBusiness servicesManufacturing / Industrial FacilitiesPublic services / Non-profitTrade / RetailFinance / InsuranceConstructionEducation / ResearchHealthcare / WelfareMedia / Communication
IT remains the largest source of demand and saw hiring activity rise 64% year on year. But some of the strongest growth is coming from elsewhere. Business services increased 66% year on year, while construction rose 51% and manufacturing and industrial facilities increased 48%.
Public services and non-profit organisations also recorded particularly strong momentum in the latest quarter, with technology recruitment up 47% quarter on quarter. Elsewhere, trade and retail, finance and insurance, education and research, and healthcare and welfare all feature among the ten industries with the highest volume of technology vacancies.
The breadth of hiring shows just how widely technology skills are needed across the UK economy. For employers, this means competition for talent can increasingly come from outside their own industry. For technology professionals, it creates opportunities to apply their skills across a much broader range of sectors.
How to compete for top IT and tech talent
A competitive advantage begins with a clear, well-considered role remit, which includes development pathways for career progression. You can support this with a competitive remuneration package that offers the benefits that today’s professionals are looking for, such as hybrid working options, more paid time off or agreed bonuses.
Read: The benefits and perks employees want most
You may also find that working with an expert tech recruitment firm gives you the competitive edge in a skills-short market. Not only do they have access to talent not available in the wider talent pool, but they can also help reduce time-to-hire and can provide insights that help you get ahead. For example, our seasonal hiring trends data suggests a summertime dip in tech and IT job posting, which could give you the strategic advantage.
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Methodology
Over 350 thousand new positions posted on independent job boards and company websites are represented in this report, including thousands of placements from Robert Half. Positions are categorised into more than 200 job titles within Robert Half’s Salary Guide using a proprietary mapping methodology that employs state-of-the-art large language models. This dataset includes roles across the finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and office support, risk and compliance and human resources professionals.
For more information on technology and IT hiring trends, salary benchmarking, and the roles and skills in demand, explore our 2027 Salary Guide today. If you’d like expert support in your hiring journey, contact our team today.
