Tech hiring slows, unemployment rises, jobs report shows

The impact from AI on hiring was stark, as companies grapple with cleaning, organizing, and sharing data stores for potential use by the technology. Demand for database architects skyrocketed, leaping 2312%, Mitchell said. Jobs for statisticians also rose sharply (up 382%).

In today’s economy, IT leaders must invest in AI to deliver measurable outcomes, not just for the sake of technology, according to Mitchell. “Tech leaders must be incredibly precise about where they allocate resources. This isn’t about AI for AI’s sake; outcomes [must] justify the investment, even during uncertain times,” she said.

Among vertical industries, employment continued to trend up in healthcare, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and social assistance. But federal government employment declined amid cuts by the Trump Administration and its unofficial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).