'Tech talent is moving from a handful of large providers into the broader economy'
Headlines may be overflowing with reports of layoffs in major tech firms, but a new report is showing that hiring is getting stronger elsewhere.
New insights from iCIMS revealed that layoffs in major tech firms may be hiding a growing tech hiring trend in other industries.
"The tech layoff headlines can be jarring, yet they mask an important shift: tech talent is moving from a handful of large providers into the broader economy," said Trent Cotton, head of talent insights, iCIMS.
"iCIMS data shows which sectors are most eager to capture that talent and where the next wave of tech-driven growth is likely to emerge."
According to the report, healthcare and manufacturing industries are seeing an increase in tech hiring, up eight per cent and four per cent respectively since May 2025.
The report attributed this to the healthcare industry scaling digital transformation, from AI-enabled diagnostics to modernised patient data systems.
The manufacturing industry, on the other hand, is leaning into automation and smart factory investments.
The fastest-growing tech occupation by year-over-year is the Computer Programmer role (+35%). Other fast-growing roles include:
- Software Developers (+28%)
- Database Administrators (+27%)
- Computer and Information Systems Managers (+22%)
- Software QA Analysts and Testers (+20%)
Talent supply not keeping up
The growing demand for tech talent comes in the wake of a hiring slowdown, according to a report. The iCIMS findings revealed that while job openings grew nine per cent year-over-year, application volume has dropped 11% from last year.
Hiring also rose by only one per cent from a year ago, struggling to rebound from a sharp decline in 2025, according to the findings.
In the wake of the rising talent crunch, iCIMS urged organisations to invest in smarter sourcing and stronger candidate communication.
"When applicant volume is shrinking, the fastest win is to unlock more value from candidates you already know," Cotton added.
"Treat silver medalists and near‑misses as a primary pipeline and keep them warm with simple, always‑on nurture."
