Tech job postings in Europe have fallen sharply over the past five years, while several Middle Eastern and emerging market economies have seen strong growth, according to data from hiring platform Indeed. Globally, tech job postings remain below pre-pandemic levels, but emerging markets have fared better than advanced economies.
Between February 2020 and October 2025, European countries experienced some of the largest declines in tech-related hiring. Switzerland led the drop with a 46% decrease, followed by the United Kingdom at 41% and France at 39%. Other countries with significant falls included Austria (-34%), Sweden (-32%) and Germany (-30%). More moderate declines were reported in Ireland (-22%), Italy (-16%), Belgium (-14%), the Netherlands (-12%) and Poland (-10%). Across all 27 countries tracked, global tech postings fell by 18%.
The United States mirrored the trend in Europe, with postings down 35% over the same period. Brendon Bernard, senior economist at Indeed, explained that Europe and North America experienced a post-pandemic tech hiring boom that began to reverse around 2022. He said the arrival of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, may have contributed to a reduced demand for certain tech roles, particularly entry-level positions, as companies adjusted to automation and shifting business priorities.
Despite declines across most of Europe, Spain and Luxembourg were exceptions. Tech postings in Spain rose 21%, while Luxembourg saw a 37% increase. Bernard noted that Spain’s relatively stable economy may have helped maintain higher hiring levels compared with other advanced economies.
In contrast, several Middle Eastern countries recorded dramatic gains in tech postings. Qatar led with a 222% rise, followed by Saudi Arabia at 130% and the United Arab Emirates at 111%. Bernard said the growth in these countries reflects broader economic transformations, with rising demand for tech talent coinciding with expanding overall job markets.
Emerging markets outside the Middle East also saw notable increases. Malaysia posted a 70% rise, Mexico 50%, India 44% and the Philippines 41%. Indexed data from February 2020 shows that tech postings in emerging markets have declined only slightly since 2022 and remain about 45% above pre-pandemic levels, compared with steep falls in the U.S. and most advanced economies.
Indeed data also highlights a shift in the global distribution of tech jobs. Emerging markets accounted for roughly 16% of global tech postings between 2020 and 2022. By September 2025, their share had nearly doubled to 28%, with India representing the largest portion due to its sizeable labour market.
The trends underline a reshaping of the global tech employment landscape, with advanced economies facing hiring slowdowns while emerging markets and the Middle East continue to expand opportunities in the sector.
