Nearly Half of UK Employers Plan to Increase Tech Headcount

Elizabeth Greenberg

29 September 2026, 10.57am

“Technology remains one of the most active areas of hiring in the UK labour market,” Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director, UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said.

Nearly half of UK employers (47%) plan to increase permanent technology headcount before the end of the year, as businesses continue to invest in digital transformation, cyber security, artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure, according to new research from Robert Half.

The study found that the top skills UK employers are seeking include cyber security (54%), agentic AI use (50%), generative AI solutions (48%), cloud (44%), and business intelligence (44%).

In addition to those planning to increase permanent IT headcount, a further 25% are expanding contract and project-based hiring. The findings highlight that technology remains a bright spot in the labour market, even as some employers take a more cautious approach to recruitment elsewhere.

While AI is reshaping technology roles, the research suggests it is changing the nature of most technology roles in general, rather than reducing demand for skilled tech professionals.

According to the data, 45% of UK technology professionals say they are now expected to develop new AI-related skills, while 38% spend more time overseeing and validating AI-generated outputs. At the same time, 53% say AI has reduced the time they spend on routine tasks, and 37% report that their roles have become more strategic.

The findings point to a growing demand for professionals who can work effectively alongside AI systems, applying the human judgement needed to ensure accuracy, quality, security and compliance.

“Technology remains one of the most active areas of hiring in the UK labour market, with nearly half of employers planning to grow their permanent technology teams before the end of the year,” Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director, UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said.

“Businesses continue to invest heavily in cyber security, cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence, but they’re not simply looking for more people. They’re looking for professionals with the right blend of technical expertise, commercial understanding and the ability to work effectively alongside AI.

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“As organisations increase investment in AI, cloud infrastructure and cyber security, we’re seeing strong demand for professionals who combine technical expertise with strategic decision-making. 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.”

With cyber threats continuing to evolve and businesses increasing investment in AI-powered technologies, competition for specialist talent is expected to remain strong, particularly for professionals with expertise in cyber security, AI and cloud environments.