For the past few years, much of the conversation around AI has focused on what the technology might replace. We believe the more important question is what AI will create. The organizations that prepare today for the technical talent and infrastructure needed to successfully implement and maintain AI will be the ones best positioned to lead in the years ahead.
The first half of 2026 was challenging for many technology professionals. Hiring slowed, companies became more selective, and many organizations shifted investment toward AI initiatives. While that created uncertainty, our outlook for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027 is more optimistic.
Many of the SMB and mid-market organizations we speak with are still early in their AI journey. Some are using tools like Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT, while others are testing AI within software development, customer service, or internal operations. For many, AI is still being introduced one use case at a time rather than fully integrated across the business.
That’s an important distinction because using AI is very different from operating AI at scale. Once organizations move beyond pilots, they have to integrate AI into existing systems, protect sensitive data, establish governance, manage access, validate outputs, and support employees using these tools every day. AI doesn’t eliminate technical work—it changes the nature of that work.
One of the biggest trends we’re beginning to see is that organizations aren’t replacing traditional IT skill sets; they’re expanding them. Companies still need cybersecurity professionals, infrastructure engineers, cloud specialists, software developers, systems administrators, IT support professionals, and data experts. Those core technical disciplines remain essential. What’s changing is the expectation that these professionals can also leverage AI within their respective fields.
A developer who uses AI effectively can accelerate delivery, but they’re still responsible for testing, security, deployment, and long-term maintenance. A cybersecurity professional now has to think beyond traditional threats and consider AI-related risks, governance, and data protection. IT support teams are increasingly helping employees adopt AI-powered tools while keeping them productive and secure. The role hasn’t fundamentally changed; the toolbox has.
We also believe AI adoption creates new responsibilities that technology alone can’t solve. As organizations expand their use of AI, they need people who can secure these environments, establish guardrails, monitor results, validate outputs, and ensure the technology is being used responsibly. AI can improve productivity, but it also introduces new challenges around security, governance, infrastructure, data quality, compliance, and cost. Those challenges require experienced professionals—not less technical talent.
History suggests this isn’t unique to AI. The Internet didn’t eliminate network engineers. Cloud computing didn’t eliminate infrastructure professionals. Virtualization didn’t eliminate systems administrators. Each major technology shift changed how work was performed while creating new challenges that required skilled people to solve. We expect AI to follow a similar path.
That perspective is also supported by industry research. The World Economic Forum continues to rank AI and Big Data, Networks and Cybersecurity, and Technological Literacy among the fastest-growing skill areas over the coming years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects strong long-term growth across software development, cybersecurity, data science, and other technology occupations through 2034. Meanwhile, McKinsey’s latest State of AI research shows that although AI adoption continues to grow, many organizations are still in the early stages of scaling AI across the enterprise. To us, that’s an important signal. The opportunity isn’t just in using AI—it’s in helping organizations implement, secure, support, and scale it successfully.
Our outlook is straightforward. We expect organizations to continue hiring the same core IT disciplines that have always supported their business. The difference is that employers will increasingly value professionals who combine strong technical fundamentals with the ability to leverage AI effectively within their discipline. Whether you’re an IT leader planning your next hire or a technology professional thinking about your career, the message is the same: continue investing in strong technical fundamentals while learning how AI fits into your discipline. The organizations and the professionals that combine those two strengths will be the ones best positioned for what’s next.
Patrick Dja Konan
Patrick Dja Konan is a Lifecycle Staffing Business Development Manager at Connection. Patrick joined Connection in 2019 as a staffing subject matter expert (SME) after helping numerous companies hire IT talent as both Technical Recruiter and Account Executive. His enthusiasm for technology, along with his profound understanding of today’s IT job market, enables Patrick to work as a strategic hiring partner to companies across the United States and provide them with tailored recruiting solutions to fill critical IT positions. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.
