The 10 hottest IT skills for 2026
- Debapritam Mishra
- Jan 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 2
According to www.cio.com these are 8 hottest skills for 2026.
It’s no surprise that AI is at the top of the list for one of the most in-demand skills based on growth in tech job postings listed since 2024. Companies are scrambling to adopt AI as it rapidly finds its way into every industry and career path. In 2024, just over 5% of job postings required AI skills, and in 2025, that number grew to just over 9%. So candidates, even for those working outside of tech, are now expected to have some level of AI skills, whether it’s prompt engineering, natural language processing, or using AI for programming and coding.
Python is a programming language used in several fields, including data analysis, web development, software programming, scientific computing, and for building AI and ML models. It’s a versatile language used by a wide range of IT professionals such as software developers, web developers, data scientists, data analysts, ML engineers, cybersecurity analysts, cloud engineers, and more. Its widespread use in the enterprise makes it a steady entry on any in-demand skill list. In 2024, just over 15% of job listings required Python skills, and that grew to just under 18% in 2025. Although more organizations are relying on AI for coding, they still need skilled professionals who understand key programming languages to write more complex code, and to help with prompt and QA code written by AI.
As more companies embrace AI and its ability to streamline coding and programming, organizations are also becoming more reliant on algorithms to help guide and dictate those processes. Algorithmic thinking requires a complex understanding of databases and programming, high-value critical thinking, and problem solving. Algorithm skills were listed as a requirement on fewer than .5% of job postings in 2024, and that jumped to over 2% in 2025, which is a significant increase for a skill that was hardly mentioned in job listings just a year ago. AI has taken over more of the entry-level work, leaving organizations looking for higher-skilled professionals who can help build and guide AI systems, and who understand how to build efficient algorithms.
Full Stack Development and MERN stack continues to be one of the most in-demand skills in 2026, especially for fresh graduates entering the IT industry. As companies move toward faster product development and cost-efficient teams, they increasingly prefer professionals who can work across both frontend, backend technologies and AI tools.
A full stack developer is capable of building complete web applications- handling user interfaces, server-side logic, databases, APIs, and deployment. This versatility makes freshers with full stack skills highly employable compared to candidates with only single-technology knowledge.
Continuous integration and continuous delivery or deployment skills have grown in demand in the wake of AI implementation to help streamline the software development lifecycle. Professionals with CI/CD skills can handle tasks such as building tools used for automation and scripting, and have a strong understanding of concepts such as containerization, cloud integration, and automated testing. In 2024, just under 7% of job listings looked for CI/CD skills, and that number jumped to just over 9% in 2025. AWS skills are in high demand as organizations look to make the most of the platform’s wide range of offerings.
AI has taken a lot of entry-level and rote work off the table for IT professionals, which has created more room for higher-level skills such as analytical thinking. Since AI still doesn’t create perfect outputs with every prompt, companies need a human eye and analytical mind to catch AI hallucinations and errors, especially when it comes to numbers and data. Analysis skills have been critical for organizations for a while now; in 2024, just over 19% of job listings required analysis skills, a number that surpassed 21% in 2025.
An increased reliance on AI has created more vulnerabilities for organizations. As they take more products and services online and integrate AI, more opportunities are created for security attacks. Cybersecurity skills were a requirement on around 2% of job listings in 2024, which grew to just over 4% in 2025. Whether organizations look to integrate AI into cybersecurity solutions or help prevent new sophisticated attacks that use AI to breach systems, security is a top priority for organizations as they move forward with AI.
ML is fundamental to AI development and requires a strong expertise of not only AI but also natural language processing. Organizations are seeking professionals with ML skills to support AI initiatives, and the future of AI adoption in the enterprise. In 2024, there were around 3% of job listings that looked for ML skills, and that number went over 5% in 2025. IT professionals with ML skills will continue to be in demand as companies embrace AI processes and look for professionals to help support and maintain AI systems.
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