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US software job postings up 23.8% on last year, still below 2020 levels
In short
- Software development postings on Indeed rose 23.8% year on year; IT systems up 12.3%.
- All four tech categories remain below February 2020; data and analytics is 37.6% below.
- Low quit rates mean fewer openings from people leaving, so apply early.
Indeed Hiring Lab's third-quarter US tech update, published on 12 November 2026, shows software development job postings on Indeed up 23.8% year on year and IT systems and solutions postings up 12.3%. Overall US postings were up 3.1% year on year to 23 October, the first positive annual trend in nearly four years. Even so, all four tech categories remain below their February 2020 levels, from 19.2% below for software development to 37.6% below for data and analytics.
Why it matters for job seekers: Demand for software and IT systems roles is clearly recovering, but the tech job market is still smaller than before the pandemic. Indeed also notes that the quit rate was about 2% in September, below the 2019 average of about 2.3%: "workers seem content to remain where they are, as low quits rates persist." Fewer people leaving means fewer backfill openings.
Who is affected: US software developers, IT systems and solutions, data and analytics, and IT infrastructure and support professionals. Pay growth (three-month average to September) was 4.7% in IT systems, 4.1% in data and analytics, 2.9% in software development and 2% in IT infrastructure and support.
What to do now:
- Software developers: there are more postings than a year ago, but competition is still strong, so apply within the first few days of a posting.
- Data and analytics candidates: this is still the weakest tech category against 2020, so widen your search to adjacent roles that use the same skills.
- Use the category pay trends when you negotiate, and be realistic in the slower-growing areas.
- Keep applications on employers' own career pages, where your application reaches the real hiring system.
The free Drivetube Job Board lets you filter US roles posted in the last 24, 48 or 72 hours, using each employer's true posting date.
Source: Indeed Hiring Lab