The world of tech recruitment is evolving faster than ever, and staying ahead means understanding the tools, and the fundamental shifts in mindset reshaping how we hire, retain and grow talent. These are trends that are already influencing how we attract, assess and retain IT professionals.
At the recent Tech Hiring Community Conference in Lisbon, organised by Landing.Jobs, several of these themes came into sharp focus, providing valuable insight into what’s next for the tech talent market.
Pay transparency: a legal obligation becoming a strategic advantage
The EU Pay Transparency Directive, set to come into force in 2026, will have a deep impact on how tech employers manage compensation, equity and trust. Far from being just a compliance burden, it’s a chance to differentiate through clarity and fairness.
Key changes for employers:
- Mandatory salary range disclosure in job ads
- Ban on asking candidates about current/previous salary
- Right for employees to request salary level and averages by gender and role
- Obligation to justify pay gaps with objective criteria (e.g., performance, tenure)
- Prohibition of pay confidentiality clauses
- Gender pay gap reporting for companies with 100+ employees, and mandatory audits if gap >5%
Portugal in focus: Although the country’s reporting model differs, Portuguese employers are not exempt. With a 12.5% unadjusted gender pay gap (17.7% in the private sector), IT and Communications are among the most affected areas. Companies must act when alerted by authorities, with corrective plans required within 120 days.
Action steps:
- Review job architecture and salary structures
- Conduct deep pay equity audits
- Build transparent and consistent communication around pay
Pay transparency builds trust, strengthens employer branding, and drives long-term retention.
AI in recruitment: from buzzword to backbone
AI is no longer a futuristic concept in HR tech. It has become foundational. From screening CVs to structuring interviews and predicting success, AI tools are becoming essential infrastructure in modern tech hiring.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- The AI recruitment market is projected to hit $3.67B by 2033 (Compound Annual Growth Rate of 15.1%)
- HR tech more broadly is growing at nearly 25% annually
- 60%+ of candidates and employees already use AI tools daily
But candidates are evolving too. Tools like Jobscan, ResyMatch and Zety help optimise CVs and cover letters. Google Interview Warmup and Interviewing.io offer AI-driven prep. Lazy Apply automates up to 750 personalised job applications daily. This shifts the dynamic: candidates are better equipped, faster, and more data-driven than ever.
What this means for recruiters: Efficiency is no longer a differentiator: Human-centric value is. AI can handle workflows, but the “human premium” is what makes an offer compelling. Empathy, storytelling, alignment with team culture, these are the new frontlines of competitive advantage.
Upskilling: a strategic response to the talent shortage
In a competitive hiring landscape, companies can’t rely solely on external talent acquisition. The smartest are building from within. Upskilling is emerging as a core talent strategy, not just for retention, but also for attraction.
Why people want to learn:
- Career progression
- Salary growth
- Job stability
- Sense of belonging
- Genuine curiosity
Effective tactics:
- Microlearning for speed and accessibility
- Live, synchronous sessions for human skills
- Learning clubs that foster community and knowledge-sharing
- Formal certifications and bootcamps
- Self-paced learning platforms for autonomy
A note on freelancers and contractors: 72% of US tech companies hired gig workers in 2023. Upskilling this segment is nuanced, but it shouldn’t be ignored. As flexible work grows, contractor development may become a long-term differentiator.
Tech Talent Trends Report 2025: Portugal’s evolving IT landscape
Landing.Jobs’ Tech Talent Trends Report 2025, launched at the Conference, offers a rich data-driven snapshot of the current state of tech talent in Portugal.
Highlights include:
- 75%+ of professionals have 6+ years’ experience
- Full remote roles now represent nearly 50% of tech jobs
- Female representation rose to 21.5%, the highest to date
- Average salaries increased by 14.4%, with global employers paying 48% more
- Gender pay gap narrowed from 36% to 29.4%
What drives tech professionals today?
- Salary (22.4%) and work-life balance (19.1%) are still top priorities
- Cultural fit is gaining traction
- Surprisingly, learning and career progression declined slightly in importance, a possible signal of fatigue or unmet expectations
For employers, the message is clear: To stay competitive, companies must treat:
- Fair compensation
- Authentic growth paths
- A strong, transparent culture
…not as perks, but as non-negotiables.
Final thoughts: recruitment is being rewritten
From legal reform to technological transformation and cultural change, tech hiring is being redefined. The organisations that thrive will be those that:
- Embrace transparency as a cultural asset
- Pair AI efficiency with human empathy
- Embed continuous learning into the core of talent strategy
The Tech Hiring Community Conference showed us that the future of work is already here. Now it’s time to lead like it.
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