Toptal Report Shows High-Skilled US Job Market Growth

The professional services firm Toptal released its High-skilled Job Report for Q2 2026, revealing a strengthening U.S. job market for experienced professionals despite AI-driven industry shifts. Demand for high-skilled technology and professional services personnel rose 7.1% quarter-over-quarter and 12.6% year-over-year, though the market contracted for junior workers and those in routine execution roles.

Finance consultants experienced the most significant growth, with demand increasing 31% quarter-over-quarter and 39% year-over-year. This surge was driven by a rise in initial public offerings, mergers, and acquisitions. In contrast, design was the only tracked expertise to see a decline in demand as the field moves toward systems-level contributions.

The report indicates that employers are prioritizing professionals who combine deep domain expertise with AI fluency, using AI to augment human capabilities rather than replace them. Supporting this trend, a Deloitte survey found that 70% of business leaders are prioritizing agility, prompting companies to supplement their core staff with fractional, project-based experts.