Reveal Survey: AI, Cybersecurity, and Data Roles Dominate 2026 Tech Hiring Demand
A new global study from Infragistics highlights a widening talent gap in the technology sector, as artificial intelligence reshapes hiring priorities and accelerates demand for specialized skills.
According to the Reveal 2026 IT Talent Survey, 80% of technology leaders reported using AI in software development in 2025, while 77% identified expanding AI adoption as their top strategic priority for 2026. This shift is directly influencing hiring trends, with 48% of organisations reporting that AI has created new roles, compared to just 18% citing AI-driven job reductions.
Talent Shortages Intensify Across Critical Roles
The survey underscores the growing difficulty in filling key technical positions. AI engineers emerged as the most challenging role to hire, cited by 39% of respondents, followed closely by cybersecurity engineers at 38%. Cloud engineers (25%) and data analytics professionals (24%) also rank among the hardest-to-fill roles.
“Adopting AI is easier than finding the talent to build and manage it,” said Casey Ciniello, noting that increasing system complexity is driving demand for highly specialized expertise.
AI and Python Skills Lead Demand
On the skills front, Python tops the list, with 56% of organisations seeking expertise in the language due to its central role in AI, automation, and data science. AI and machine learning skills follow at 47%, while Java (34%) and cybersecurity capabilities (33%) remain in high demand.
“The real competitive advantage is access to skilled talent,” said Jason Beres, emphasizing the growing mismatch between demand and available talent.
Governance and Security Challenges Grow
As AI adoption accelerates, organisations are also grappling with new risks. Half of respondents cited responsible AI usage as a major concern, while 48% pointed to security and privacy challenges. This is driving demand for expertise in data governance, bias mitigation, explainability, and secure AI deployment.
Senior Talent in Focus
Hiring strategies are increasingly skewed toward experienced professionals. While 30% of organisations plan to expand hiring in 2026, only 12% are targeting entry-level roles. Around 70% are prioritizing senior-level talent, particularly those with AI and cloud expertise.
This reflects the complexity of modern technology environments, where integrating AI systems, managing cloud infrastructure, and ensuring compliance require advanced skill sets.
Data and Analytics Take Center Stage
The survey also highlights the rising importance of data-driven decision-making. Around 85% of organisations now use business intelligence tools, while 76% embed analytics directly into applications. Additionally, 84% expect to increase their investment in analytics in 2026.
As a result, demand is surging for data analysts, BI developers, and analytics engineers capable of building data pipelines and integrating insights into operational systems.
“Analytics is moving beyond dashboards into everyday applications,” Ciniello added, pointing to a shift that is redefining how organisations use data.
The findings paint a clear picture of a technology labour market shaped by rapid innovation and deep specialization. While AI is creating new opportunities, the shortage of skilled professionals remains a critical constraint—making talent acquisition one of the defining challenges for technology leaders in 2026.
