Fastest Growing Tech Roles 2026

1. AI Engineer

Year on year increase in vacancies: 299%

At the start of 2025, AI Engineer felt like an emerging, niche role. However, in 2026 it will be one of the most critical roles in scaling artificial intelligence. 

As AI moves away from experimentation and towards structured everyday use, it is AI engineers that will be responsible for deploying successful AI solutions. 

Without them, an organisation's AI dreams will remain just dreams. In 2026, AI Engineer will be a business critical role that determines the success, or failure, of AI transformation. 

Top courses for AI engineers

• AI Engineer Level 6 Apprenticeship - Close your AI engineering skills gaps by hiring or upskilling an existing team member with a fully-funded Level 6 AI Engineer Apprenticeship. 
• Certified AI Security Engineer - Learn how to keep your AI systems safe and secure from security threats.
• Text Analysis and LLMs with Python - Learn the essentials of LLM architectures, prompt engineering and model monitoring.
• Agentic AI Foundations - Explore the core strategies for building Agentic AI systems in Amazon AWS. 

2. Machine Learning Engineer

Year on year increase in vacancies: 66%

Machine Learning Engineers will become a cornerstone of any organisations that wants to harness AI effectively. Businesses are gathering and managing more data than ever, and it's machine learning engineers who will turn that data into actionable intelligence.

No longer just a technical role, machine learning engineers are expected to be at the forefront of solving business problems with AI solutions. They also increasingly need to be on top of the latest regulatory and compliance guidelines, ensuring AI systems meet the standards of the latest governance frameworks. 

In 2026, machine learning engineer will move from being a predominantly technical role, to one that powers innovation and drives decision making. 

Top courses for machine learning engineers

• AI Engineer Level 6 Apprenticeship - The title may be AI Engineer, but this apprenticeship programme delivers all the skills needed to deploy generative AI and machine learning solutions. 
• Data Science and Machine Learning with Python - Learn how data science, analytics, machine learning and AI can be used to derive value from data assets. 
• Machine Learning Engineering on AWS - Learn to build, deploy and orchestrate machine learning solutions at scale in AWS. 
• Advanced Machine Learning with Databricks - Gain theoretical and practical knowledge of Apache Spark’s architecture and its application to machine learning workloads within Databricks.

3. Assistant Project Manager

Year on year increase in vacancies: 43%

According to PMI, employers will need around 25 million project managers by 2030. And it's no surprise, with projects becoming ever-complex and technical in nature. 

And the assistant project manager will be playing more than just a supporting role. This is a role that needs to be tech-savvy and adaptable, and able to utilise AI-data and productivity tools to ensure maximum efficiency. 

At a time where there is pressure on organisations to change, and change fast, assistant project managers will play an essential role in turning plans into results. 

Top project management courses

• Project Manager Level 4 Apprenticeship - Elevate the standard of your in-house project management capabilities by hiring or upskilling an existing employee. 
• APM PFQ - Learn the fundamentals of project management with one of the most popular entry-level certifications. 
• PRINCE2® Foundation & Practitioner - PRINCE2 remains one of the most sought-after project management certifications in the UK. 
• Certificate in AI Enabled Project Management - This one-day workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of how AI can be used in your role to increase the likelihood of success. 

4. Data Analyst

Year on year increase in vacancies: 37%

2026 is set to be a record-breaking year for data generation and consumption. Data Analysts will be at the heart of every organisations decision making, and those without analytical capability are sure to get left behind. 

It's a role that's evolving beyond its traditional responsibilities. AI is allowing the usage of advanced analytics tools and automated data visualisation, which presents both opportunities and challenges. 

The data analyst role in 2026 will be imperative to data-driven decisions, not just number crunching. They will be the opportunity-finders and strategy drivers, if they can evolve and harness the power of AI to their advantage. 

Top data analyst courses

• Data Analyst Level 4 - Remove the data skills gaps in your organisation by upskilling your team or hiring a new data apprentice. 
• Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate - This course provides a comprehensive introduction to Databricks SQL and will prepare you to take the Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate exam.
• Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate - The Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate certification validates your ability to prepare, model, and visualise data using Microsoft Power BI.
• CompTIA Data+ - CompTIA Data+ is an entry-level data analytics certification that focuses on the skills required to mine, analyse, and interpret data for business decision-making.

5. Data Engineer

Year on year increase in vacancies: 35%

Growing data collection means that organisations will be under increasing pressure around data quality, privacy and compliance. This means that the Data Engineer is likely to be one of the unsung heroes of any data team in 2026. 

It will be their job to build and maintain the data pipelines that process this data, as well as their responsible for making sure systems are secure by design and robust against evolving threats. 

Having strong data engineering capabilities will be critical in ensuring businesses make the most of their data, and any plans to adopt advanced analytics and AI models will likely collapse without it. 

Top data engineer courses

• Data Engineer Level 5 Apprenticeship - Enhance your data capabilities by upskilling your team or employing a data engineering apprentice. 
• Data Engineering with Databricks - This course offers hands-on instruction in Databricks data science and engineering workspace and will prepare you to take the Databricks Certified Data Engineer Associate exam.
• Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure - In this course, the student will learn about the data engineering patterns and practices as it pertains to working with batch and real-time analytical solutions.
• Build Data Lakes and Data Warehouses on Google Cloud - This course describes the role of a data engineer, the benefits of a successful data pipeline to business operations, and examines why data engineering should be done in a cloud environment.

6. Data Scientist

Year on year increase in vacancies: 23%

In 2026, the importance of the Data Scientist lies not just in building models, but in framing business problems, testing hypotheses, and uncovering insights that influence strategy.

The accelerated collection and management of data means that the role of a data scientist will become more grounded in reality. It will be their role to work with data engineers and product teams to ensure models are aligned with real-world constraints. Communication and storytelling will become a core skill, helping organisations to understand what matters, not just what's measurable. 

Their role will be crucial in turning complexity into clarity and insight into business impact. 

Top data science courses

• Mathematics for Data Science - This course introduces concepts with practical programming exercises and covers essential topics for Data Science such as Vectors, Matrices, Calculus.
• Introduction to Data Science for Data Professionals - This three-day course is aimed at those who are interested in learning about how Data Science, Analytics, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to yield value from data assets.
• Data Storytelling - This intensive half-day workshop is designed to equip participants with the skills to create impactful data stories.

7. IT Project Manager

Year on year increase in vacancies: 23%

As mentioned further up this list, project managers are increasingly required to have technical capabilities. Therefore, it's no surprise to see IT Project Manager roles increasing in demand.

This is a role that sits at the intersection of complex and large scale projects, such as cloud migrations, cyber security activity to combat new threats and AI tech deployments. They will play an essential part in ensuring that technical deliveries are aligned with strategic goals and a realistic operational reality. 

As organisations continue to adopt new tech at scale, skilled IT project managers will play an important role in turning these ambitions into outcomes. 

Top IT project manager courses

• ITIL4 Foundation - The ITIL® 4 Foundation course provides a comprehensive introduction to IT service management and the ITIL framework. It is designed for individuals involved in the delivery, support, or management of IT-enabled services in modern digital organisations.
• PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner - On this highly engaging and interactive course you’ll be introduced to the five connected elements of PRINCE2 - project context, practices, processes, principles with people at its centre.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) - In this course, you will apply the recognized practices of project management as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI)® to successfully manage projects.

8. Business Analyst

Year on year increase in vacancies: 22%

Business Analyst is another role that will be greatly impacted by the data boom. In 2026, they'll be needed to give organisations the insightful guidance they need to navigate change, process redesign and AI-driven decision making. 

It'll be their role to be the strategic problem solver. Helping businesses to make informed decisions and then implement effective solutions. It's going to be a crucial year for adoption and transformation projects, and the business analyst will be the one to ensure projects stay on track, and avoid costly mistakes. 

Top business analyst courses 2026

• BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis (inc. exam) - This course is ideal for anyone new to business analysis or looking to better understand the role and support change.
• BCS Practitioner Certificate in Business Analysis Practice (inc. exam) - This course equips learners with the skills to collaborate effectively with business and IT stakeholders.
• Business Analysis for Project Managers - This course bridges the gap between Project Management and Business Analysis. 

9. IT Support Technician 

Year on year increase in vacancies: 17%

The scope and scale of AI and cloud transformation means that IT support roles will be even more important to businesses in 2026. As the first line of defence against issues, it will be their role to maintain confidence in technology and fix issues as they arise. 
By keeping systems running smoothly and empowering users, they play a crucial role in ensuring that technology delivers real business value.

Top IT support courses

• CompTIA A+ - CompTIA A+ is widely considered to be the industry-standard certification for launching a career in IT.
• ITIL4 Foundation - This course introduces learners to key ITIL concepts such as the Service Value System (SVS), the service value chain, the four dimensions of service management.
• CompTIA Network+ - CompTIA Network+ focuses on networking fundamentals and covers the knowledge and practical skills needed to configure, manage and secure networks across different platforms.

10. IT Security Officer

Year on year increase in vacancies: 17%

Cyber security attacks are becoming more sophisticated, and regulations are tightening, resulting in a growing reliance on skilled cyber professionals. 

The IT Security Officer will be needed to prevent breaches, protect organisational reputation and maintain operational continuity. They'll need technical expertise, as well as good knowledge of key frameworks, like ISO 27001, GDPR and the EU AI Act. 

In 2026, they'll need to act as both the guardian of data, and a business enabler. 

Top IT security courses

• CompTIA Security+ - The CompTIA Security+ certification validates foundational cyber security knowledge and skills essential for protecting networks, systems, and data.
• Certified Information Security Manager - The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification from ISACA validates advanced expertise in managing, designing, and assessing enterprise information security programs.
• ISO 27001 Lead Implementer / Lead Auditor - During this training course, you will also gain a thorough understanding of the best practices of Information Security Management Systems to secure the organisation`s sensitive information and improve the overall performance and effectiveness.

The 2026 tech job market looks set to be shaped by the large-scale transformation projects organisations are undertaking, as well as the way AI begins to shift different roles and responsibilities. 

With change happening on an unprecedented scale, tech job roles are likely to continue evolving, with new skills and capabilities emerging as essential skills. 

This article was written by our team of learning experts, with data taken from official job posting statistics from the last year in the UK. 

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