Job growth in tech is being driven by AI infrastructure in 2026

The job market in the technology sector is taking a different path than some AI forecasts predicted. According to Business Insider, the number of open positions in the field has risen again this year, despite companies continuing to make cuts.

Data from TrueUp, a platform that monitors over 9,000 tech companies, shows that there are currently more than 280,000 open positions. This total exceeds the number recorded at the beginning of the year.

However, the recovery is uneven. Growth is concentrated primarily in roles related to the infrastructure needed to develop and operate artificial intelligence systems.

Where are the jobs emerging?

According to the study cited by Business Insider, demand for hardware professionals grew significantly in 2026. This expansion is linked to investments in GPUs, data centers, robotics, chip manufacturing, and other components essential for AI functionality.

In this context, hardware refers to the physical part of technological infrastructure, such as processors, servers, and equipment used to store and process large volumes of data.

This trend also helps explain why artificial intelligence doesn’t only affect those who work directly with AI models. The advancement of technology increases the need for a broader range of specialists.

What about software professionals?

The expectation that AI tools for programming would quickly reduce the need for developers has also not been confirmed so far, based on data presented by Business Insider.

Opportunities in software engineering remain relatively stable, while new roles are emerging around the implementation and operation of AI systems.

The Stanford AI Index 2026, produced with data from Lightcast, identified continued growth in the presence of AI-related skills in job postings. In the United States, they appeared in 2.6% of jobs in 2025, while agent-related AI skills grew rapidly.

This indicates a shift in the type of knowledge being sought. In addition to developing systems, companies need professionals who can integrate, implement, and manage artificial intelligence technologies.

AI is transforming the skills required

The transformation also extends to roles outside the field traditionally associated with technology. LinkedIn’s 2026 job market report highlights growing demand for AI literacy skills, including knowledge related to prompt engineering.

The same survey identified the creation of 1.3 million AI-enabled jobs globally in the previous two years. However, the analysis emphasizes that technology adoption is still concentrated in certain roles.

Another study by PwC analyzed over 1 billion job postings across six continents. The research found that jobs requiring specific AI skills grew faster than the overall job market.

For those already employed, the change may feel less like a new profession and more like an update to the skills required for existing roles.

What does the data reveal about the market?

The increase in vacancies does not mean that layoffs have ended. TrueUp has recorded approximately 190,000 layoffs in the technology sector in 2026 so far, but the pace is below the peak seen after the pandemic.

The scenario described by Business Insider therefore combines two trends: companies continue to reduce teams in some areas while expanding hiring where investments in artificial intelligence are advancing.

For professionals, the data indicates a market in transition, where traditional technical knowledge remains relevant but now coexists with new requirements related to artificial intelligence, infrastructure, automation, and data usage.