Software engineering, in theory, is the professional field most vulnerable to automation, given the rapid adoption of AI-powered coding tools. However, researchers at venture firm SignalFire say the hiring data tells a different story. 'The rationale given for lots of layoffs is consistently AI, and specifically they'll say AI with respect to code; they'll say one engineer could do the job of however many engineers in the past,' said Asher Bantock, SignalFire's head of research. 'What we're seeing on the ground is a little inconsistent with that.' SignalFire's analysis, which tracked the careers of millions of employees across more than 80 million companies, suggests that engineering was the most resilient job function in 2025. Instead of focusing on layoffs, which are difficult to track because people often delay updating their employment status after job cuts, SignalFire examined hiring data as a more accurate indicator of real-time workforce trends. While total hiring across...
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