SignalHire has released data comparing recruiter searches on its platform between January and April 2025 and the same period in 2026, revealing significant shifts in talent demand. The analysis shows that searches for Physical Therapist grew by 1,473% year over year, while Physical Therapist Assistant searches surged 5,717%. This suggests that the physical therapy shortage, often discussed as a future projection, is already a pressing reality for hiring managers.
Hiring managers are not waiting for official forecasts to materialize; they are sourcing candidates early because the competition for physical therapy talent has intensified dramatically. The data indicates that the actual shortage is more severe than published projections suggest, and recruiters who started sourcing early will have a competitive advantage by the time official data confirms the crunch.
In contrast, searches for Software Engineer fell 68% globally, and by 75% in the UK. This decline does not indicate a reduction in technical hiring but rather a shift toward more specific job titles. For instance, searches for Java Developer rose 3,257% in the UK, and QA and Software Test Engineer increased 567%. Hiring managers are now targeting specialized technical expertise rather than general coding abilities, reflecting the impact of AI tools that have absorbed many tasks previously handled by generalist software engineers.
The underlying message for talent acquisition teams is clear: the window between current recruiter behavior and wider public visibility of these trends is critical. The market is sorting itself, and the data shows where it is heading. Companies that adjust their sourcing strategies now will be better positioned to secure the talent they need.
