Alexandria, VA, Sept. 9, 2026 – While the broader U.S. labor market added 162,000 jobs in August and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, aggregate employment in IT dipped 0.07%, down 3,459 jobs month-over-month, according to TechServe Alliance, the national trade association for the IT & Engineering Staffing and Solutions Industry. On a year-over-year basis, IT employment was essentially flat, inching up 0.28%, adding 14,742 jobs. Engineering employment declined 0.15% in August and was down 1% compared to the same period last year, with a net loss of 28,152 jobs.
“Despite stronger-than-expected job growth in the broader economy in August, IT employment continues to show little movement, reflecting an environment in which employers remain highly selective in their technology hiring,” said Mark Roberts, CEO of TechServe Alliance. “Organizations continue to invest in technology, particularly around AI, but those investments are not translating into broad-based workforce expansion.”
“Although an improvement over recent years, IT staffing and solutions companies continue to point to hiring activity that is uneven and inconsistent, rather than widespread growth in technology headcount. While most observers do not yet attribute significant job loss to AI directly replacing workers, it is among many factors — including economic and geopolitical uncertainty — that are contributing to employers remaining cautious about expanding their technology teams,” Roberts added.
To access the interactive IT & Engineering Employment Index, please click here.