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If you've been looking at job ads recently, you've probably noticed that AI skills are often now a baseline requirement. According to a Dice November 2025 jobs report, 51% of US tech job postings now need AI skills. AI demand is also accelerating in the UK. 

Companies are desperate for people who can fill the AI/Cloud/Data intersection. And that’s where you come in. So, are you ready for 2026? If you're planning your next move in 2026, you need to take into account the need for AI skills. 

AI skills are more desirable than ever

AI has moved from experimental side projects to vital infrastructure across the technology industry. This pressure is felt by employers. Organisations face a massive shortage of qualified talent. 

According to the AI Workforce Consortium report, AI skills are more pervasive than ever in tech roles. 78% of the job roles analysed include AI skills, highlighting a shift in role requirements. AI roles now dominate tech job market growth and this is set to continue throughout 2026. 

Seven out of the 10 fastest-growing ICT roles were AI-related, according to the report, including:

• AI/ Machine learning (ML) engineer
• AI risk and governance specialist
• NLP engineer

Demand for skills in AI governance is up 150% and AI ethics skill demand is up 125%. 

Mind the gap 

Critical skill gaps were identified in areas such as generative AI, large language models and prompt engineering. Growth in GenAI roles over the past year has been driven by consultants who are required to help implement the tools, rather than develop them.

Indeed’s Hiring Lab AI at Work Report 2025 found that the rise of generative AI will have a bigger effect on the tech sector. Generative AI job postings in the US have increased by 170%. Although they still account for a relatively small number of total jobs, demand will likely increase in 2026. Roles that mentioned generative AI include ML engineers and data scientists.

Where we expect to see growth 

Never mind the theory; here are the technical areas expected to see the most growth, and the skills you need to land those roles. Focus on developing expertise in observability tools, deployment automation, and performance optimisation.

Data reporting

Companies are moving beyond implementation to performance tracking and business intelligence. If you can translate technical metrics into actionable insights, you're solving a real problem. 

Data science

The need for data scientists with a broad and sophisticated skill set is expected to grow in 2026. Top skills needed include: 

• Programming: Python and/or R
• Mathematics: Linear algebra, calculus, and probability
• SQL (Structured Query Language)
• ML (algorithms and libraries)
• Data Wrangling (data transformation and cleaning)

System monitoring 

This goes beyond keeping services running as businesses build infrastructure that enables teams to operate complex distributed systems with confidence. 

Cross-functional collaboration 

As systems become more complex and teams more distributed, effective collaboration becomes essential. This means being able to communicate technical decisions and trade-offs to stakeholders who need to understand the implications, while maintaining your technical knowledge.

Security infrastructure 

If you're looking to build your technical expertise in a niche, security infrastructure is a good one for 2026. These roles are technical positions where expertise is vital. 

UX engineers and application support analysts

Businesses prioritise user experience (UX) and operational reliability as they scale their digital operations. These roles sit at the intersection of technical implementation and user impact. In 2026, they are ideal roles for engineers who want to see the results of their technical decisions.

AI/ML engineers and data engineers 

These are among the most in-demand tech roles. AI/ML engineers will need skills including: MLOps, PyTorch/TensorFlow, and Cloud ML services. Data Engineers will need skills including Data architecture, SQL/NoSQL mastery, and ETL/ELT Tools.

AI analysts

AI Analysts are essential for translating complex model outputs into clear, measurable business value and strategic direction. Skills needed include:

• Generative AI & prompt engineering
• Data visualisation (e.g., Tableau/Power BI)
• SQL (Structured Query Language)

DevOps engineers

DevOps engineers enable organisations to achieve speed, stability, and innovation at the scale demanded by modern digital business. Key skills needed include: 

• Containerisation (Docker/Kubernetes)
• IaC (Terraform or Ansible)
• CI/CD Automation

Cloud engineers

Essential to design, deploy, and manage the scalable, cost-optimised infrastructure that everything else runs on. Essential skills include:

• Core Platform Expertise (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Cloud Security (IAM, Networking)
• FinOps (Cost Optimisation)

Skills-first hiring is on the rise 

Skills-first hiring, which focuses on certifications and non-degree education, have tripled in recent years. HR professionals are likely to use skills-first hiring for software engineering, data analytics, data science and UX design roles.

Positioning yourself for the 2026 AI tech market

Indeed's February 2025 research shows 45% of managers reporting a lack of skilled applicants as their main hiring challenge. The 2026 hiring market will reward technical specialists who can prove operational maturity, embrace AI integration, and look beyond traditional tech company boundaries. Here's how to position yourself:

Upskill now as AI skills are non-negotiable

AI knowledge is no longer a differentiator. If you haven't already, upskill to understand 

• how AI systems work
• how to integrate them into production environments
• how to evaluate their performance and limitations. 

You don't need to become a ML expert, but you do need to understand AI implementation patterns and trade-offs.

The good news is that companies are willing to pay more for in-demand skills, such as cybersecurity, data analytics and software development. In fact, AI skills command a 23% wage premium in the UK. 

Businesses want tech candidates who can maintain reliable, observable systems. Make sure your AI skills are up-to-date. 

To secure your next tech job for the new year, speak to us today.