US companies are seeking fewer foreign developers, and more "AI engineers"
What happened
From fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2026, U.S. companies filed 36% fewer H‑1B petitions for software developers, with new‑hire filings dropping 46%, while petitions that mention AI or machine learning in the title tripled, reaching 1.8% of all certified filings in fiscal 2026. The decline was steepest after a $100,000 fee was announced in late 2025, and it was driven mainly by smaller firms; the nine biggest tech firms only cut software filings by 6%, whereas all other employers fell 41%. Nvidia’s AI‑related filings nearly quadrupled and Amazon’s rose 34%, while Microsoft and Google saw the largest software filing drops. Most AI‑titled filings came from single‑submission employers, and the share from firms outside the five largest rose to 85%.
Why it matters
For workers, the shift means fewer visa pathways for traditional software roles and more demand for AI‑focused titles, potentially reshaping career planning. Companies may need to adjust hiring strategies toward AI expertise to stay competitive in the U.S. talent market.
Reality check
An automated, sceptical read of the sourceIncremental. The data shows a steady reallocation of H‑1B demand rather than a sudden breakthrough in AI hiring.
Is this a big deal?
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