As the UK warms up, which tech/IT skills are hotting up?

CV-Library reveals to Free-Work the FOUR technology skills that saw UK employers spring into hiring action in January-March 2026. PLUS, how much you can now earn in each.

As of March 2026, the UK's technology skills market is evolving at a faster pace than ever, with over 3,500 active job listings in the last six months.

What actions do tech job board users need to take to stay ahead?

To take advantage of these plentiful digital and IT opportunities, technologists need to stay ahead of emerging trends and understand where the sought-after tech/IT skills lie.

Ranging from AI and the Cloud to Cybersecurity and Data, this article will identify and map out what technology skills are warming up - as the UK itself warms up - potentially offering major IT career opportunities for people getting started or levelling up.

Here, exclusively for Free-Work, I’m going to look at four - the four increasingly ‘hot’ technology skills to know in 2026, based on the activity across our platform, writes Amy Dennis, head of delivery at CV-Library.

1. Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity focuses on protecting computer systems, data and networks from cyberattacks and breaches.

What IT security functions are organisations investing in 2026, and why?

Data from The National Cyber Security Centre shows the scale of the challenge, handling an average of four “nationally significant” attacks per week in the year leading up to September 2025.

As security threats become more sophisticated in 2026, organisations are investing heavily in the infrastructure and expertise to protect their system and client data.

How much in salary does cybersecurity pay?

Therefore, demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to rise, with average salaries for roles explicitly requiring “cybersecurity” as a skill exceeding £52,000 in annual salary.

Cybersecurity experts are currently being actively hired in sectors managing sensitive data, including finance, healthcare, government, telecoms and ecommerce.

What tasks do IT security experts perform in 2026?

On both a temporary and permanent basis, IT security experts are especially sought-after to identify vulnerabilities, manage risk and respond quickly to security incidents to minimise disruption and damage.

How to get into IT security jobs, from an already technical/IT background?

• Build strong security fundamentals.

• Develop a solid understanding of operating systems such as Linux, Windows, as well as common threat sources. Roles requiring Linux can offer salaries up to £75,000 (according to CV-Library’s database, March 2026).  

• Learn Python, Bash or JavaScript to automate security tasks.  

• Gain certifications such as CompTIA Security+. Around 600 jobs required this in January 2026, with candidates potentially earning 30% more (CV-Library’s database, March 2026).

Top 3 Springboard Roles to get into Cybersecurity

1. Network Engineer

2. Penetration Tester

3. Security Analyst

2. AI Development: LLMs and Agentic AI

Artificial Intelligence, particularly large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and autonomous agentic systems, is one of the fastest-growing areas in IT.

What’s driving AI and what tools are companies using?

These AI tools analyse data, generate content and automate workflows with minimal human input.

Demand has surged in this year’s first quarter as businesses embed AI into products and internal operations.

What’s the outlook and salary for AI Development?

So AI development is expected to remain one of the hottest UK IT skills in 2026, with average salaries near £45,000 where “AI” is explicitly listed as a requirement, rising to £85,000 in major cities such as London (CV-Library’s database, March 2026).

AI is used across fintech, ecommerce, marketing technology, healthcare and SaaS platforms. Developers who can build, test and deploy AI models and applications at scale are in strong demand, powered by these five sectors.

How to get into AI, from an already technical/IT background?

• Learn Python — the dominant language for Machine Learning (ML) frameworks.

• Build foundations in statistics, data analysis and ML.

• Experiment with LLM frameworks and APIs to develop real-world applications.

Top 3 Springboard Roles to get into AI

1. Java Developer

2. Machine Learning Engineer

3. Data Analyst.

3. Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing delivers services, including servers, databases, storage, and software, over the internet, rather than locally. It powers steaming platforms, SaaS tools, mobile apps, e-commerce, and enterprise.

What’s driving demand for Cloud skills?

As more software is hosted in the cloud, employers increasingly seek workers experienced with platforms like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.

Demand is also rising as businesses adopt multi-cloud strategies for flexibility, reliability and scalability.

How much salary do Cloud Engineers earn?

Engineers who can design, manage and scale cloud infrastructure are in demand, with our technology job board users who list “Cloud skills” earning an average salary of £46,580 (CV-Library’s database, March 2026).

How to get into Cloud Computing, from an already technical/IT background?

• Gain certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Azure Administrator.

• Build strong Linux and networking fundamentals.

• Learn Terraform and other Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools.

Top 3 Springboard Roles to get into Cloud Computing

1. Backend Developer

2. Administrator

3. DevOps Engineer

4. Data and Database skills: Python and SQL

Data underpins modern business, powering Analytics, Machine Learning, and decision-making across Retail, Finance, Marketing, Healthcare and Technology.

SQL and Python remain essential programming languages in 2026

Why are SQL and Python used for in business?

• SQL is used for querying, managing, and structuring Databases.

• Python dominates Data Analysis, Automation and AI workflows, helping organisations process complex datasets.

With SQL and Python, what is the demand and pay like?

On both a contract and full-time basis, data professionals who can collect, clean and analyse large datasets are in high demand. SQL and Python are also critical for building scalable data pipelines and supporting AI-driven systems.

Jobs explicitly requiring “Python” as a skill could earn up to £44,000 on average (CV-Library’s database, March 2026).

How to get into SQL & Python, from an already technical background?

• Master SQL and understand database design principles.

• Learn Python for Data Analysis and Machine Learning  

• Use visualisation tools like Power BI or Tableau to communicate insights effectively.

Top 3 Springboard Roles to get into SQL & Python:

1. Business Analyst

2. Software Developer

3. Data Scientist

Final Takeaway

Due to businesses using the last, less chilly weeks of Q1 2026 to continue to invest in AI, Cloud Infrastructure and Data-Driven decision-making, technologists who can build, secure and analyse these systems will remain among the ‘hottest’ tech job candidates, even as the UK IT job market warms up for Q2 and potentially beyond.