Demand for agentic AI skills surges as businesses shift beyond traditional coding – Malt

Demand for ‘agentic AI’ skills has surged dramatically over the past year, rising by up to 60 times, as businesses prioritise expertise in designing rather than traditional coding alone, according to research from Malt.

The findings, published in the Malt Tech Trends 2026 report, pointed to a significant shift in the technology skills landscape.

Employers are increasingly seeking professionals who can integrate and manage AI-driven systems across business functions, rather than focusing solely on software development.

The report draws on data from more than one million freelancers and 90,000 companies across Europe, the UK and the Middle East, analysing keyword searches and project briefs to identify emerging trends.

Demand for expertise in low-code automation tools such as n8n has grown more than fourteenfold, now reaching levels comparable to established programming languages like Java.

At the same time, demand for traditional skills such as WordPress and Java has declined by 20% to 30%, reflecting a broader pivot towards AI and automation capabilities.

Only 20% of freelancers joining Malt in 2025 listed JavaScript as a core skill, down from 40% the previous year, suggesting a move away from conventional development roles.

The research also highlighted growing demand for AI skills beyond technical teams.