Global Tech Hiring Shifts Toward AI Literacy and Human Skills

More than 4,000 tech employers across 42 countries report a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 35% for the July–September period. While 50% of companies still plan to increase their workforce, the cooling trend reflects a broader shift toward strategic, skills-focused hiring rather than aggressive headcount growth. Kye Mitchell, President of Experis U.S., noted that talent has become the primary constraint in technology integration, suggesting that the most successful organizations will be those that effectively evolve their internal processes alongside new tools.

Technical demand is currently dominated by AI modeling and application development at 34%, followed closely by AI literacy. However, soft skills remain equally critical. Employers identified communication, collaboration, and teamwork as the most vital human attributes for the current environment. To bridge ongoing talent shortages, 95% of firms are turning to internal upskilling and reskilling initiatives, supplemented by flexible work arrangements and wage adjustments. Regional performance remains uneven, with Puerto Rico, Brazil, and the United Kingdom leading in hiring optimism, while Hong Kong and parts of Eastern Europe report more cautious or negative outlooks.