Technology employment in Arizona is forecast to grow at a moderate rate this year, according to the “State of the Tech Workforce 2026” report published by CompTIA, the leading global provider of vendor-neutral information technology (IT) training and certifications.

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CompTIA estimates net tech employment will grow 1.9% in 2026, creating 4,021 new jobs and increasing the state’s tech labor force to more than 212,000 workers.  In 2025, tech employment in Arizona declined by 0.5%, resulting in the loss of an estimated 1,025 jobs.

“While our forecast reflects the most up-to-date data available at this time, we acknowledge that many factors, domestic and international, known and unknown, may impact economic conditions and labor markets,” said Seth Robinson, vice president, industry research, CompTIA. “Still, the fundamentals of tech employment remains on solid footing. As companies continue to invest in AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, infrastructure and other areas, they will also need skilled tech professionals to make those investments pay off.”

All 50 states and the District of Columbia are projected to experience tech employment job gains in 2026, with 25 states, including Arizona, expected to surpass or match the projected national growth rate of 1.9%.

Arizona’s tech industry has an estimated impact of $39.3 billion on the state’s economy. There are more than 16,000 tech business establishments in the state.

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the tech job market continues to evolve. Employer hiring activity as measured by job postings reveals a market increasingly dominated by AI skills hiring. In January 2026, more than 275,000 active job postings nationally referenced a need for some level of AI skills. This included dedicated AI positions, such as AI engineers or AI architects, and jobs that required AI fluency and the ability to utilize and optimize AI tools to perform tasks and boost productivity.

AI HIRING ACTIVITY BY INDUSTRY SECTOR

(January 2025-January 2026)

1. Technology

2. Professional, Scientific, Technical Services

3. Finance and Insurance

4. Manufacturing

5. Administrative Services

6. Retail

7. Healthcare and Social Services

These seven sectors account for approximately 74% of hiring activity via job postings for AI skills.

At nearly 150 pages, CompTIA’s “State of the Tech Workforce 2026” is the most comprehensive source of data on the size and scope of the U.S. technology industry and workforce. The report is available at https://www.comptia.org/en-us/resources/research/state-of-the-tech-workforce-2026/.