This quarter found a little more spring in its step 🔋🔆
While more organisations turned decisions into projects and hiring, AI adoption accelerated and governance tightened. Engineers, as always, adapted.
⚡️ Here’s what’s moving and shaping the market:
• We saw AI & Data programs drive demand across AI, Data, Engineering, Product & Delivery roles, in both contract & perm hiring.
• Gov announces national AI regulatory framework.
• Proposed CGT reforms could improve Aus appeal for startup talent.
• APRA tightens AI governance expectations.
• Anthropic opens Sydney office.
• Orgs weigh adoption against ROI, AI tool cost a growing concern.
• “Tokenmaxxing”: is token efficiency the next optimisation challenge?
• Microsoft predicts every worker will become an AI manager.
• Orgs planning for AI workers alongside human teams.
• Rollouts increasingly limited by people, not tech.
• Equity incentives return as tech companies balance cash burn.
• Engineering becoming more design & review focused.
• They’re spending less time writing code, more time directing AI.
• Canva pauses work for company-wide AI upskilling.
• Data shows productivity gains taking longer than expected.
• Big Tech advertising ~20% more engineering roles YoY.
• Atlassian, SAP and ServiceNow defy AI disruption fears.
• Bigger rounds, fewer deals define startup funding.
• Airwallex reaches US$11bn valuation after fresh funding.
• NVIDIA becomes world’s most valuable company.
#marketwrap #techjobs #techhiring
