The technology sector is holding steady rather than accelerating, with modest but consistent growth during Q2 2026 according to the latest Technology Sector Report from APSCo and CV-Library.
The report found that 126,861 tech vacancies were advertised during the quarter - up 4.3% year-on-year - while demand for AI talent continued to rise. AI-related vacancies increased by 41.8% compared to the same period last year and now account for 4.6% of all technology roles advertised.
Employers also continued to prioritise permanent hiring, with permanent roles accounting for 88% of all technology vacancies and increasing by 4.9% year-on-year. Contract hiring, meanwhile, remained broadly flat annually and fell 6.1% compared with the previous quarter.
Artificial Intelligence Engineer was one of the fastest-growing roles, with vacancies rising 74.4% year-on-year. It was also the highest average advertised salary of £78,821 while Data Scientist salaries saw the strongest annual increase, rising 22.2%.
Salary transparency also continued to improve, with 34% of tech vacancies including salary information, up from 32.1% a year ago. However, two-thirds of roles still don't advertise pay.
Commenting on the findings, Samantha Hurley, Managing Director at APSCo UK, said:
The latest data paints a picture of a technology recruitment market that is stable, but evolving rapidly. While overall vacancy volumes have remained relatively consistent, the makeup of demand is changing, with AI, data and cybersecurity skills becoming increasingly critical to business growth and transformation.
What is particularly encouraging is that employers continue to invest in permanent talent despite wider market uncertainty. This demonstrates a longer-term commitment to building robust digital capabilities rather than relying solely on short-term resource solutions.
The sustained growth in AI-related hiring should also act as a wake-up call for both employers and policymakers. The UK has a significant opportunity to strengthen its position as a global technology leader, but achieving that will require continued investment in skills, workforce development and talent attraction strategies.”
The findings are based on CV-Library's analysis of Lightcast labour market data and candidate activity from CV-Library's database of more than 1.4 million registered technology professionals.
For more information or to arrange an interview with APSCo, please contact Bethany Arnold, Content Manager at bethany.arnold@apsco.org.