Global demand for software engineers accelerated sharply at the start of 2026, with more than 100,000 new jobs posted this month as companies pushed deeper into AI-driven development.
New data from JobsWithGPT, cited in a report published by Universal Business Operating System (UBOS), shows 105,115 software engineering positions were posted worldwide in January, reflecting sustained digital transformation across enterprises.
The hiring surge spans traditional business applications, core engineering roles and a growing list of AI and machine-learning specialties, as employers balance infrastructure needs with the rapid expansion of AI-powered products.
Of the roles posted in January, 13,985 were listed as remote positions, representing 13.3% of total demand, while 91,130 roles, or 86.7%, were on-site.
Business software applications led all specializations with 20,248 openings, followed by core software engineering at 16,992 roles and cybersecurity engineering at 11,476.
Software-engineering leadership accounted for 10,608 postings, while data and analytics roles reached 10,379. Machine learning and AI engineering roles totaled 8,793 positions, placing them among the most in-demand technical categories alongside full-stack development, Java engineering, quality assurance, and DevOps roles.
AI-related skills appeared prominently across job listings. General AI was mentioned in 21,477 postings, while generative AI appeared in 4,887 roles. Large language models were cited in 4,376 postings, with growing mentions of retrieval-augmented generation, prompt engineering, and agentic frameworks.
Tools tied to modern AI workflows, including GitHub Copilot, OpenAI’s platform, and ChatGPT, also appeared repeatedly across listings, signaling that AI capabilities are increasingly becoming baseline requirements across the software workforce rather than confined to specialized teams.
Says UBOS,
“Employers are prioritizing a blend of cloud, automation, and AI capabilities… For recruiters, HR leaders, and engineers planning their next career move, understanding the distribution of roles, the most sought‑after skills, and the geographic concentration of opportunities is essential.”
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