Business · Economy · 7 hrs ago
U.S. software developer job postings rise despite wider use of AI coding tools
U.S. software development job postings have risen nearly 15% since February 2025, even as job postings overall have fallen.
The increase comes as AI tools are taking on more coding work.
GitHub says one in three proposed code changes now involves an AI agent, up from fewer than one in 10 a year earlier.
The software job market had already fallen sharply after a hiring peak in 2022, and postings remain about 27.5% below their pre-pandemic level.
Most of the recent increase has been in senior roles and jobs mentioning AI.
This suggests companies still need developers, especially for work involving AI tools, even as those tools can produce code.
The figures point to a changing profession, not evidence that developer jobs have returned to earlier levels.
U.S. software-development job postings have risen nearly 15% since February 2025, despite wider use of AI coding tools and a fall in overall job postings.
The increase follows a steep decline from a 2022 hiring peak, and postings remain about 27.5% below their pre-pandemic level.
The growth is concentrated in senior roles and jobs focused on AI, according to Indeed Hiring Lab.
Researchers say the figures complicate predictions that AI will rapidly eliminate demand for software developers.
- Who
- U.S. software developers and employers hiring for software-development roles.
- What
- Job postings have risen nearly 15% since February 2025, despite the wider use of AI coding tools.
- When
- Since February 2025; the figures cited include data through May 2026.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- The sources say the increase follows a steep post-2022 hiring decline and is concentrated in senior and AI-oriented roles. They also report that companies are producing more code and need developers to work with AI.
AI displacement concerns
More optimistic view of developer demand
Effect of AI
AI displacement concerns
AI tools are increasingly capable of coding and other work traditionally done by junior employees, raising concerns that demand for developers could fall.
More optimistic view of developer demand
Eric Kutcher said developers who work with AI remain in high demand as companies produce more code.
What job growth means
AI displacement concerns
The article says AI is automating software-development tasks, even as postings rise.
More optimistic view of developer demand
The rebound in postings is cited by some economic experts as evidence that AI is not rapidly erasing demand for developers.
It wasn't that long ago that we were reading the headline that there will be no more need for software developers
We're seeing much more growth in the places we thought we were gonna see the biggest displacement
If that pace holds, within the next two years, most of the code pushed to GitHub could be written by an agent. Much of it may never be fully read by a human.
Software-development hiring reached a peak before technology companies pulled back after a pandemic-era hiring surge.
Anthropic launched Claude Code, and the period from this month is used to measure the rise in U.S. software-development job postings.
Senior roles accounted for 71% of the increase in software-development postings, while job titles mentioning AI accounted for 37%.
GitHub reported that one in three pull requests involved an AI agent, up from fewer than one in 10 a year earlier.
- Change in U.S. postings
- Nearly 15% increase since February 2025
- Pre-pandemic comparison
- Postings remain about 27.5% lower
- Senior roles
- 71% of posting growth from May 2025 to May 2026
- AI-related job titles
- 37% of posting growth from May 2025 to May 2026
- AI agents and pull requests
- One in three involved an AI agent in GitHub's October report
Sources
Related news
Los Angeles Fine-Dining Restaurants Expand Non-Alcoholic Pairings
Apple reportedly cuts iPhone 18 Pro component orders by up to 20%
Bond Traders Look to Inflation Data and Fed Chair for Rate Signals
SpaceX spectrum deal deepens Starlink’s push into U.S. mobile service
Starbucks has explored a possible takeover of Chipotle
Netflix reportedly plans to cut 5% of its workforce
Meta bans ByteDance ads across its platforms in seven countries
OpenAI revenue revision rattles tech stocks as AI investment continues
Isaias Shuts In More Than Two-Thirds of Gulf Oil Production
NPR plans newsroom reorganization with no job losses, content chief says
Apple reportedly cuts iPhone 18 Pro component orders by up to 20%
