Monthly report
Tech skills, October 2026.
Across 28,652 tech job postings from 2,371 employers in the United States and Canada over the last 180 days, the most requested technical skills are Python (44%), AWS (31%), Machine Learning (30%), CI/CD (27%) and Distributed Systems (24%).
From 28,652 postings in the United States and Canada, April 23, 2026 to October 20, 2026. Updated October 20, 2026. How we count
The most requested skills, all roles
| Skill | Share of postings | Required when named |
|---|---|---|
| Python | 83% | |
| AWS | 71% | |
| Machine Learning | 81% | |
| CI/CD | 78% | |
| Distributed Systems | 86% | |
| AI Agents | 78% | |
| Observability | 80% | |
| SQL | 85% | |
| Agile | 65% | |
| Git | 78% | |
| LLMs | 74% | |
| Kubernetes | 67% | |
| Code Review | 87% | |
| Testing | 78% | |
| Java | 83% |
Moving this year
The change in each skill's share of a role's postings over the last 12 complete months (November 2025 to September 2026), in United States and remote postings, comparing like with like. Only moves clear of the month-to-month noise are listed.
| Skill | Role | Change |
|---|---|---|
| AI Agents | AI Engineer | +3.3 pts |
| AI Coding Tools | AI Engineer | +2.6 pts |
| RAG | AI Engineer | +2.5 pts |
| Prompt Engineering | AI Engineer | −1.5 pts |
| AWS | Machine Learning Engineer | +2.3 pts |
| Observability | Machine Learning Engineer | +2.1 pts |
| Statistics | Machine Learning Engineer | +1.9 pts |
| LLM Fine-tuning | Machine Learning Engineer | −2.3 pts |
| C++ | Machine Learning Engineer | −2.1 pts |
| AWS | Data Engineer | +1.9 pts |
| CI/CD | Data Engineer | +1.8 pts |
| Apache Kafka | Data Engineer | −1.9 pts |
| Operations Research | Data Scientist | +1.9 pts |
| AWS | Data Scientist | +1.5 pts |
| NLP | Data Scientist | +1.2 pts |
| Causal Inference | Data Scientist | −2.3 pts |
Role by role
Software Engineer
7,982 postings · top: Python, CI/CD, Distributed Systems · rising: Agile, Git
Product Manager
3,608 postings · top: Product Management, Product Strategy, Agile · rising: Stakeholder Management, Agile
Data Scientist
1,521 postings · top: Python, Machine Learning, Statistics · rising: Databricks
Engineering Manager
1,322 postings · top: Distributed Systems, AWS, Agile · rising: REST APIs
Security Engineer
1,218 postings · top: Cloud Security, Python, Application Security · rising: CISSP
Solutions Architect
1,146 postings · top: AWS, Solution Architecture, Azure · rising: Communication, Leadership
Full-Stack Engineer
1,140 postings · top: React, TypeScript, Python · rising: Agile, CI/CD
Machine Learning Engineer
1,121 postings · top: Machine Learning, Python, LLMs · rising: AI Agents, NLP
Data Engineer
956 postings · top: ETL/ELT, SQL, Python · rising: Observability, CI/CD
Solutions Engineer
918 postings · top: Python, Networking, AWS · rising: English
AI Engineer
845 postings · top: Python, AI Agents, LLMs · rising: Leadership, Testing
Platform Engineer
844 postings · top: Python, Terraform, CI/CD · rising: Terraform, PowerShell
DevOps Engineer
680 postings · top: CI/CD, Terraform, Kubernetes · rising: Stakeholder Management, LLMs
Site Reliability Engineer
570 postings · top: Observability, Kubernetes, Terraform · rising: Leadership, Azure
Research Scientist (ML)
560 postings · top: Machine Learning, Python, LLMs · rising: Python, Data Analysis
Data Analyst
554 postings · top: SQL, Python, Data Visualization · rising: Data Analysis, Communication
Forward Deployed Engineer
460 postings · top: Python, AI Agents, LLMs · rising: Leadership, Microservices
Embedded Software Engineer
395 postings · top: C, C++, Embedded Systems · rising: Git, Stakeholder Management
Technical Product Manager
372 postings · top: Product Strategy, Product Management, AI Agents · rising: AI Product Management, Regulatory Compliance
Applied Scientist
307 postings · top: Machine Learning, Python, C++ · rising: Java, Distributed Systems
Backend Engineer
250 postings · top: Distributed Systems, AWS, REST APIs · rising: AI Coding Tools, Observability
Cloud Engineer
227 postings · top: Terraform, AWS, CI/CD · rising: PowerShell
Analytics Engineer
175 postings · top: SQL, Python, Data Modeling · rising: Data Visualization
Robotics Engineer
146 postings · top: Python, C++, Machine Learning · rising: Agile, Simulation
Mobile Engineer
139 postings · top: Android Development, iOS Development, Kotlin · rising: Testing, Machine Learning
Data Architect
136 postings · top: Data Modeling, Data Governance, Data Warehousing · rising: Data Architecture, Observability
MLOps Engineer
125 postings · top: Machine Learning, MLOps, Python · rising: Python, LLMs
Product Analyst
119 postings · top: SQL, Python, Agile · rising: Agile
Applied AI Engineer
117 postings · top: AI Agents, Python, LLMs · rising: MLOps, Generative AI
Business Intelligence Analyst
113 postings · top: SQL, Power BI, Data Visualization · rising: Snowflake, Power BI
Quick answers
What are the most in-demand tech skills in October 2026?
Across tech job postings in the United States and Canada over the last 180 days, the most requested technical skills are Python (44% of postings), AWS (31% of postings), Machine Learning (30% of postings), CI/CD (27% of postings) and Distributed Systems (24% of postings).
Which skills grew most this year?
Over the last 12 complete months, comparing like with like: AI Agents in AI Engineer postings (up 3.3 points); AI Coding Tools in AI Engineer postings (up 2.6 points); RAG in AI Engineer postings (up 2.5 points).