With all of today’s focus on the advent of artificial intelligence and machine learning, the industry most obviously affected is tech. But is this change going to impact the process of hiring tech workers for the better or worse?
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The tech industry was recently rocked by record layoffs on the heels of the pandemic. Now that the world is back to its new normal, job positions are back on the rise in some sectors, while others are being phased out by AI and other trends.
Here, we’ll share what the trends in hiring tech workers look like, and what the future holds for recruiters, job seekers, and employers in 2025 and beyond.
Trends In Hiring Tech Workers
1. Skilled Tech Workers Are In Demand
Everything is going digital, and everyone from startups to existing mega corporations wants a piece of this technological pie. Whether it’s designing web pages and monitoring metrics or creating mobile apps, small, medium, and large businesses need tech workers who know what they’re doing.
This demand means that anyone with strong skills in the computer and IT world has a potential job. The tech sector is growing, with a projected addition of nearly 400,000 jobs in software development, quality assurance analytics, and testers in the next ten years.
To put those numbers in perspective, this is double the growth of the rest of the US workforce put together.
2. DEI Is Everywhere
Society has woken up from its outdated views on gender, race, age, and other stereotypes, and governmental policies ensure no one is left behind in this awakening. Diversity, ethnicity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates cover every industry, but the tech world has embraced DEI as more than a “must do.”
According to research, the more diversity within a tech-focused company, the more likely that business is to be innovative, creative, and successful.
This knowledge drives many tech companies to ensure their new hires are inclusive-minded, using platforms like Obsidi® to source top tech candidates and provide DEI courses for continuing education within their teams.
To fill the diversity gap, tech companies have adjusted their hiring process to reduce bias and improve outreach to underrepresented communities. Recruiters recognize that the most sought after tech workers not only have knowledge, but they’re also open to working with a diverse group of people.
3. New Perks Are in the Pipeline
Following mass layoffs across the tech industry, companies saw an influx of applicants. They could pick and choose at their whim, and candidates accepted jobs regardless of the pay and benefits. However, this era is ending, as tech workers today look for companies that offer a happier working dynamic.
The pandemic proved that tech work can be done remotely or hybrid. Companies willing to offer new perks, like flexible scheduling, hybrid or fully remote jobs, and a more satisfying workplace culture, find it’s easier to hire top talent. The best tech workers go where they feel valued and appreciated — and that’s not always shown in the salary.
Employers who want to attract the top minds in the tech field must cultivate a brand reputation where the employee experience is a positive one. Potential candidates today research the atmosphere of the company, looking for places that prize a healthy work/life balance.
4. The Move to Soft Skills Has Begun
With so many ways to learn for free and on-demand, it’s not terribly difficult to find qualified candidates with hard skills. On the other hand, landing workers with soft traits like dependability, critical thinking, interpersonal connections, and leadership qualities can be a challenge.
The move to a focus on hiring people with soft skills and enough knowledge to do the job but who can be trained over highly qualified candidates without those outside traits has begun.
Today’s applicants must demonstrate a combination of technical skills and soft skills. Working as a team player, motivating others, communicating, and solving problems can make or break your attractiveness as a new hire.
5. AI Is Part of the Hiring Process
Whatever your stance on AI might be, the reality is that it’s an integral part of today’s hiring and work process. ChatGPT and other AI innovations are used in much of the workforce today, and rather than being seen as a negative, AI is a tool that’s encouraged and helpful as part of an evolving tech industry.
Workers and employers who are nervous about its impact on the world must overcome that concern and learn how to partner with AI to improve efficiency and accuracy in repetitive tasks. This adaptation allows their employees to focus on more consumer-centric, in-depth aspects of the job that drive success.
Hiring Tech Workers In 2025
Recruiting for tech positions today requires a grasp of current and upcoming trends. However, as fast as technology changes, these trends can be challenging to keep up with.
Connecting with partners who focus wholly on the tech industry, from diversity in hiring to creating a satisfactory workplace for everyone, will ensure companies attract and retain the best talent for their ultimate success.
