If you’re graduating this year, there’s a good chance you’re already thinking hard about what’s next. Graduate school is one appealing option—a chance to continue learning and delay the job hunt for a few more years—but many members of the Class of 2026 will be focused on entering the workforce as soon as possible.
The good news for college graduates is that higher education continues to pay off. A report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found that people with a college degree enjoy both stronger employment prospects and higher annual earnings than those without one.
Between 2010 and 2021, the percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher increased from 32% to 39%, while those with a master’s degree or higher grew from 7% to 9%. That additional education translates into earnings as well: average annual income for workers with a bachelor’s degree is around $59,600, compared to $69,700 for those with a master’s degree or higher.
Of course, earning a degree is only part of the equation. Choosing where to apply that education matters just as much.
While headlines about tech layoffs in recent years—over 150,000 roles cut across more than 1,000 companies—have understandably caused concern, they don’t tell the full story. Beneath those corrections, demand for skilled talent in key technology sectors remains strong, especially for graduates entering the workforce now.
Below are the tech career paths showing the most durable growth and opportunity heading into 2026.
Here are the growth sectors to look at for 2024.
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Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity continues to be one of the most resilient and undersupplied areas in tech. A global shortage of 3.4 million cybersecurity workers means 43% of organizations are struggling to find and hire the right talent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that the number of information security analysts is projected to grow 35%, Between 2021 and 2031, making it the eighth-fastest-growing occupation in the country.
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Software Engineering and Full-Stack Development
Despite periodic downturns, software engineering continues to underpin nearly every sector of the economy. Companies still need developers to build, maintain, and improve the products and platforms they rely on.
Those comfortable working across both front-end and back-end systems remain especially valuable, particularly in smaller teams and growing organizations. Software roles also offer flexibility across industries, from startups and enterprise tech to healthcare, education, and finance.
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Data Analytics and Data Engineering
As companies collect more data than ever, the ability to turn that information into actionable insight has become a competitive advantage. Data roles remain critical across nearly every industry, including healthcare, finance, marketing, logistics, and technology.
Data analysts and data engineers play complementary roles: analysts focus on interpreting data and informing decisions, while engineers build and maintain the systems that move and store that data reliably
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Cloud computing
Cloud computing remains the backbone of modern technology systems. From enterprise software to AI workloads, most digital services today rely on cloud infrastructure to scale, remain secure, and operate efficiently.
The BLS predicts that employment opportunities in cloud computing will grow by 15% up to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
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Artificial intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence is no longer a niche specialization, they are now embedded in software development, analytics, customer service, healthcare, finance, and operations.
Thinktank Emsi Burning Glass, which analyzes millions of job postings, has projected that demand for roles requiring AI-related skills will continue to grow rapidly through the second half of the decade. Rather than being limited to research roles, AI-related hiring now spans data analysis, automation, product development, and infrastructure.
For graduates, this means opportunities in roles such as data analyst, machine learning associate, AI operations (MLOps) support, and software engineering positions that integrate AI tools into real-world applications.
Looking Ahead
For graduates entering the job market in 2026, the technology landscape may look different than it did a few years ago—but opportunity remains strong for those who focus on durable, in-demand skills. Fields like cybersecurity, AI, cloud computing, data, and software engineering continue to offer long-term relevance, clear entry points, and room for growth.
Kirstie works for our job board partner, Jobbio. Based in Dublin, she has been a writer and editor
across print and digital platforms for over 15 years.
