Tech Talent Shifts to Defensive Mode as Job Market Cools
Event summary
- 74% of tech professionals plan to change employers in 2026, but only 41% feel confident about finding better opportunities.
- Burnout among tech workers increased from 31% to 46%, with 70% of severely burned-out professionals actively job searching.
- Tech job postings dropped to 575,000, below pre-pandemic 2019 levels and less than half of the Q2 2022 peak of 1.3 million.
- Only 34% of tech professionals remain untouched by layoffs, down from 56% in 2023.
- 63% of non-AI tech professionals believe AI eliminates more jobs than it creates.
The big picture
The tech job market has cooled significantly, with job postings below pre-pandemic levels and a workforce prioritizing stability over opportunity. This shift is driven by sustained structural pressure, including burnout, layoff concerns, and a lack of confidence in long-term industry growth. Employers that address these issues with transparent AI governance and clear policies will be better positioned to attract and retain talent.
What we're watching
- Retention Strategies
- How employers will adapt to the shift toward stability as a primary driver of career moves.
- AI Governance
- Whether companies can close the AI governance gap to reduce risky behavior and improve retention.
- Market Dynamics
- The pace at which tech job postings recover and whether employers regain more power in the market.
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