A new report from recruitment firm Randstad reveals that non-tech sectors, specifically banking and healthcare, are now offering higher salaries to software engineers than traditional technology companies. Banks currently provide a 13% salary premium, while healthcare and life sciences firms offer up to 17% more compared to tech employers.
The surge in demand for AI-related skills is the primary driver behind this shift. According to the research, job postings requiring AI capabilities have increased more than fivefold over the past year. Companies are prioritizing AI expertise alongside skills in governance, orchestration, critical thinking, and communication.
The labor market landscape is also influenced by significant layoffs in the tech sector. In the first nine months of 2026, US tech companies cut 165 925 jobs, representing a 54% increase from the previous year. Consequently, 55% of non-tech organizations are now actively recruiting professionals displaced by these reductions.
Despite tech sector layoffs, overall demand for technology talent remains high. The report indicates that 86% of organizations globally are expanding their tech workforces, with this figure reaching 93% in the United States. Randstad based these findings on a survey of 1 100 decision-makers across 11 countries, alongside an analysis of 20 million job postings.
