Despite predictions that AI would replace engineering jobs, new data from SignalFire suggests the opposite. According to their analysis, engineering was the most resilient job function in 2025, with a smaller decline in hiring compared to other tech roles. In fact, engineers comprised 55% of all new hires in 2025 across major tech companies, a significant jump from 2019.
SignalFire's head of research, Asher Bantock, noted that the continued need for engineers was evident, even at early-stage startups, which collectively brought on 7% more engineers in 2025 than in 2019. This growth in engineering headcount suggests that AI is not substituting for engineering talent, but rather increasing demand for it.
CEOs such as Nvidia's Jensen Huang have also rejected the theory that AI will replace engineers, arguing that AI has made engineers busier than ever, generating new ideas and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
