For the second quarter in a row, IT sector employers express the highest willingness to hire new employees. According to data from the ManpowerGroup report, nearly 4 out of 10 organizations (39%) plan to recruit in the first three months of 2025. At the same time, almost every second employer (45%) plans to maintain current staffing levels. Only a small number of companies (14%) are considering reducing positions.
The employment outlook for the IT industry for Q1 2025 stands at +25%, signaling good job-change prospects for professionals and an indication of increased competition for the best candidates among companies (Source: ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey). Compared to the same period last year, there is an upward trend. In Q1 2024, only 27% of firms planned to recruit, 12 percentage points lower than now. The employment outlook was +18%. Nearly 6 out of 10 organizations did not plan any staffing changes, which was 14 percentage points higher than in the upcoming quarter. These figures suggest that companies previously focused more on stabilizing employment rather than expanding teams.
– “The data confirms that the IT sector is one of the strongest players in the job market. The 7 percentage point year-on-year increase reflects a recovery from earlier reductions, while the 2 percentage point quarterly decrease is a natural adjustment. The fact that 39% of companies plan to expand their teams is a positive signal, confirming the growing demand for new technology specialists and upcoming stabilization focused on AI, machine learning, and cloud solutions. We can confidently say that IT is rebounding. Stabilization in the industry is becoming more noticeable, and recruitment forecasts support this. The dynamic development of areas such as AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity is driving demand for specialists, creating a positive trend in the job market. IT professionals with broad experience in multiple technologies can feel more secure, especially in these rapidly developing segments,” comments Paweł Łopatka, Director of Experis in Poland.
Key Skills in Demand
According to Paweł Łopatka, the most sought-after skills in new technologies will include artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as Data Solutions, where implementing AI and automating processes have become priorities for many firms. – “Cybersecurity, due to the continuous rise in threats, requires specialists to protect systems. Cloud adoption and the consistent growth in cloud environment management are key for digital transformation. Similarly, data analytics and processing enable better business decisions. These areas align with global trends identified by Gartner, such as the development of Agentic AI and digital resilience, which prepares organizations for cyber threats, failures, or system disruptions. Ensuring operational continuity and recovery capabilities is crucial,” says Łopatka.
He also notes that the IT sector, once seen as a model of flexibility, increasingly combines remote work with a hybrid model. – “Working from the office promotes collaboration, innovation, and faster onboarding of new employees. Gartner emphasizes the growing importance of team integration in projects, while organizations strive to maintain flexibility to remain attractive employers,” he concludes.
EMEA Region’s Positive Outlook
The IT employment outlook in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region is even more promising than in Poland, with an average employment outlook of +32% – the highest among all analyzed sectors. Companies in South Africa (+31%), the Netherlands (+29%), and Switzerland (+29%) plan the most hiring. Among Poland’s neighbors, Germany shows the highest recruitment needs (+24%), while Slovakia (+16%) and the Czech Republic (+14%) also report high, though somewhat smaller, demand for new employees.
Source: Manager Plus
