Luciano Ayres

Enterprise AI in Numbers · Talent and workforce

US software development job postings, compared with before the pandemic

78.3

As of September 30, 2026+4.7% since August 31, 2026Monitor

78.3 as of September 30, 2026, according to Indeed Hiring Lab, job postings tracker, up from 74.8 on August 31, 2026. Indeed's seasonally adjusted index of software development job postings, with February 1, 2020 = 100.

What it means for leaders

Developer hiring remains well below its pre-pandemic level while AI coding tools spread. Plan engineering capacity on the assumption of smaller teams doing more, and invest in senior review skills.

What would change the reading: A sustained rise in postings alongside rising agent adoption.

The trend

February 29, 2020September 30, 2026

Every reading

DateValueChangeSource
78.3+4.7%Source
74.8−0.8%Source
75.4+2.7%Source
73.4−0.1%Source
73.5+1.2%Source
72.6−0.4%Source
72.9+2.8%Source
70.9+2.2%Source
69.4+3.1%Source
67.3+1.1%Source
66.6+1.1%Source
65.9+2.5%Source
64.3−1.4%Source
65.2−1.2%Source
66.0+0.8%Source
65.5+2.3%Source
64.0+1.3%Source
63.2+1.1%Source
62.5−0.5%Source
62.8−6.1%Source
66.9−0.9%Source
67.5+0.1%Source
67.4−1.6%Source
68.5−1.2%Source
69.3+1.5%Source
68.3−2.0%Source
69.7−0.6%Source
70.1−0.1%Source
70.2+1.3%Source
69.3−2.1%Source
70.8±0.0%Source
70.8−0.4%Source
71.1−2.1%Source
72.6+0.1%Source
72.5−2.4%Source
74.3−1.1%Source
75.1−4.5%Source
78.6−4.1%Source
82.0−0.8%Source
82.7−12.6%Source
94.6−4.0%Source
98.5−1.1%Source
99.6−6.7%Source
106.8−12.1%Source
121.5−6.9%Source
130.5−8.4%Source
142.5−8.3%Source
155.4−7.7%Source
168.4−6.9%Source
180.8−6.9%Source
194.3−8.3%Source
212.0−5.9%Source
225.4+0.9%Source
223.5−0.9%Source
225.6−3.5%Source
233.8+4.1%Source
224.5+5.2%Source
213.4+1.7%Source
209.9+8.6%Source
193.2+8.2%Source
178.6+5.2%Source
169.7+12.5%Source
150.8+7.1%Source
140.8+5.1%Source
134.0+6.9%Source
125.3+7.4%Source
116.7+8.5%Source
107.6+10.2%Source
97.6+6.9%Source
91.3+4.0%Source
87.8+9.1%Source
80.5+7.6%Source
74.8+5.5%Source
70.9+2.9%Source
68.9+5.4%Source
65.4+0.8%Source
64.9−8.3%Source
70.8−19.7%Source
88.2−11.8%Source
100.0—Source

Definition and method

What it measures
Indeed's seasonally adjusted index of software development job postings, with February 1, 2020 = 100.
Population
Software development job postings on Indeed in the United States
Updated
Monthly (from daily data)

Caveats

  • Postings measure hiring demand, not employment.
  • Interest rates and the post-2022 correction drive much of the decline, not AI alone.

Cite this

Enterprise AI in Numbers, "US software development job postings, compared with before the pandemic", https://lucianoayres.com/ai-brief/data/software-dev-job-postings/, retrieved October 25, 2026. Data: Indeed Hiring Lab, job postings tracker.

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