Asger Risom
The tech job market has entered one of its bleakest periods in years, according to new data from Indeed.
The tech job market has entered one of its bleakest periods in years, according to new data from Indeed. The company’s annual study shows a steep contraction in openings across the sector — with data and analytics roles hit hardest.
Indeed’s Job Postings Index, which tracks hiring demand, has been sliding since its pandemic-era peak in 2022. But tech has fared far worse than the broader market. The site’s Tech Job Postings Index, which topped 200 at the height of the boom, has now fallen to 67.
The most dramatic decline is in data and analytics. That category — covering business analysts, data scientists, data analysts and business-intelligence developers — has fallen to an index level of 60, meaning there are now 40% fewer openings than before COVID-19.
At the same time, applications per job continue to climb.
Indeed senior economist Cory Stahle said that years of investment in data-science training have left a surplus of highly skilled workers just as employer demand recedes. Many of those people are reluctant or unable to pivot to new careers, he added, creating a widening mismatch between supply and demand.
The sector’s retreat also reflects hiring patterns after the pandemic surge. Companies ramped up data-related hiring from 2020 to 2022, Stahle said, and have had little reason to replace many of those roles since.
Generative AI is adding a further chill, making it easier for employees without formal data backgrounds to perform tasks that once required specialists. While Stahle stressed that AI “is not yet capable of replacing workers,” he said it is helping teams “do more with less,” reducing the need for new hires.
For job seekers, that means tighter competition and thinner wage growth than in the boom years.
“This combination of fewer postings and more applications suggests that the market is competitive,” Stahle said. “Finding the right job may take some time.”
Sources: Indeed
