Main image of article The Tech Job Market is Showing Positive Signs—Especially if You're Experienced

If you've been grinding through the tech job market over the past few years, you know it's been brutal. Mass layoffs, hiring freezes, and that constant feeling of uncertainty have left even seasoned professionals questioning their next move. But here's some encouraging news from the June 2025 data: the tech job market is showing signs of improvement—and if you've got experience under your belt, this month's trends are working in your favor. 

Summary

Tech unemployment dropped to 2.8% in June, down from 3.4% in May. That's the first time we've seen it dip below 3% since January, and it's significantly better than the national unemployment rate of 4.1%. More importantly, tech job postings increased 4.1% month-over-month and 4.0% year-over-year—the kind of sustained growth that suggests this isn't just a temporary blip. 

Experienced professionals are seeing the biggest bump. While total tech job postings grew 7% in the first half of 2025, positions requiring 10+ years of experience surged 17%. That's not a typo. Companies aren't just hiring again—they're specifically hunting for senior talent who can hit the ground running and solve complex problems from day one. 

If you're an individual contributor with solid technical chops, this market shift plays directly to your strengths. The data shows explosive growth in specialized roles that require deep expertise: Guidewire Developers saw 215% month-over-month growth as insurance companies modernize their core systems. Reliability Engineers and Substation Engineers jumped 179% and 172% respectively, driven by infrastructure and energy sector transformations. 

Companies aren't just looking for technical leaders—they want people who can bridge the gap between engineering teams and business objectives, manage complex projects across departments, and build systems that scale. Soft skills like Team Performance Management showed 77% month-over-month growth, while Cross-Functional Collaboration jumped 189% year-over-year. 

Okay, so what about the elephant in the room? Yep, AI is still growing explosively. In fact, 38% of tech job postings now mention AI skills, up from 36% in May and representing a staggering 111% increase from June 2024. If you've been putting off learning prompt engineering, exploring machine learning frameworks, or understanding how AI integrates with your existing tech stack, now's the time to close that gap. 

You don't need to become an AI researcher overnight. Your years of experience give you something that can't be taught in a bootcamp: the judgment to know when and how to apply new technologies effectively. Companies need people who can evaluate AI tools critically, implement them thoughtfully, and avoid the pitfalls that come with chasing every shiny new trend. 

Look, the past few years have been tough, and it's natural to feel skeptical about positive news. But this data represents how companies view technology and the people who build it. The combination of declining unemployment and strong demand for both technical depth and leadership skills points to a market that still values what experienced professionals bring to the table. 

The market is rewarding experience, expertise, and the ability to navigate complexity—exactly what you've been building throughout your career. 

You can read our full tech job market analysis, including insight into geographic trends and what’s happening to demand for more inexperienced tech talent, here.