Indeed: UK employers are creating jobs for senior staff in software engineering and IT, where AI enhances the value of experience, while cutting back elsewhere (Irina Anghel/Bloomberg)

UK employers are creating jobs for senior staff in software engineering and IT, where artificial intelligence enhances the value of experience. According to data from job search website Indeed, British firms posted about 10% fewer vacancies this month than in January 2025. However, the decline in job postings conceals disparities, with certain sectors experiencing growth.

Software developers are seeing a resurgence in demand, with postings rising 14%, particularly in senior roles and those directly linked to AI. This comes after dramatic job losses in the profession since 2022. IT and engineering occupations, where AI takes over routine tasks, are among the few that have held up since last summer.

In contrast, sectors such as retail, manufacturing, accounting, and marketing are experiencing significant declines in job vacancies, with double-digit falls. Indeed's senior economist, Jack Kennedy, described the UK labor market as "increasingly splitting into two speeds," with demand concentrated around experienced workers and roles directly connected to AI.

Brief written by urgent.news from Techmeme, Fortune — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.