The employer's market in IT is still thriving. The number of applications per job offer has increased by as much as

The average number of applications per job offer in IT in 2024 was 10 percent higher than in 2023, according to new data from No Fluff Jobs. Among mid-level specialists, this increase reached as much as 37 percent. The most sought-after category is Frontend; however, the number of job postings in this category dropped year-over-year by as much as 1/5. On the other hand, for another consecutive year, the number of job offers in non-programming-related categories continued to grow — for instance, in the Security category, the increase reached an impressive 39 percent.

Kamil Kusier executive editor 09.01.2025, 11:01 Reading time: 3 min

Man wearing glasses types on a laptop in a living room in the evening — fot. Freepik

In brief

The average number of applications per IT job offer rose by 10 percent year on year in 2024, according to a No Fluff Jobs report. Among mid-level specialists the increase reached 37 percent and among seniors 23 percent, while in the Frontend category an average of 149 candidates applied for each offer. The number of job postings fell by an average of 3 percent per month, most sharply in Game Dev by 58 percent, while it grew in the Security category by 39 percent, Data & BI by 34 percent and AI by 22 percent. The share of offers for entry-level candidates fell from 8 percent in 2023 to 6 percent in 2024.

The IT industry still grappling with the effects of the crisis, signs of stabilization emerging

The IT sector continues to face the consequences of the crisis, the first signs of which appeared on the Polish market two years ago, although slow signs of stabilization are becoming visible. On average, 3 percent fewer job postings in this sector were published each month of 2024 compared to the previous year. These figures come from the latest report, “IT Job Market 2024/2025” by No Fluff Jobs, a Polish job portal that has been helping candidates find jobs tailored to their financial expectations for 10 years.

This situation can be attributed to, among other factors, a decline in the number of assignments from software houses, HR agencies, and companies specializing in employee leasing.

Average number of applications per job offer up by 10 percent year-over-year

The largest decline in job postings occurred in the following categories: Game Dev (down by as much as 58 percent), Embedded systems (-33 percent), Agile/Scrum Master (-31 percent), and Frontend (-20 percent). Meanwhile, for another consecutive year, the availability of job offers in categories not directly related to programming has been growing. For example, the Security category saw an increase of 39 percent, Data & BI grew by 34 percent, Product Management by 33 percent, and AI by 22 percent.

At the same time, the average number of applications per IT job offer rose by 10 percent year-over-year. The greatest increase in competition was observed in job postings targeted at mid-level specialists. Here, the average number of CVs submitted per job offer rose by a staggering 37 percent compared to 2023. For job offers targeting senior-level specialists, the increase was 23 percent.

Frontend: the most competitive category

Frontend remains by far the most competitive category, with an average of 149 candidates per job offer. In the UX/UI/Design category, an average of 96 applications was submitted per offer, while in Project Management, the number stood at 86 applications. The Embedded category recorded a dramatic surge in interest last year, with the average number of CVs per job offer almost doubling (from 13 in 2023 to 25 in 2024).

A few years ago, anyone looking to enter IT was advised to learn programming. However, two years of crisis in the tech sector have shifted this perspective. Now, specializing in fields not strictly related to programming, such as data analytics, cybersecurity, AI, or machine learning, appears to be a safer bet. While salary growth has slowed—though IT salaries remain attractive compared to many other industries—competition in the market has intensified.

Looking at average applications per mid-level position, the figures are telling: Frontend 186, Backend 51, and Fullstack 39. For junior positions, these numbers are even higher. Despite the crisis in the IT market, No Fluff Jobs remains focused on its core mission: promoting a transparent job market. "We are optimistic about the changes that could be brought by the proposed legislation on pay transparency and the EU directive on equal pay," comments Tomasz Bujok, CEO of No Fluff Jobs.

Decline in job offers for beginners

The situation for individuals just starting their careers in IT remains challenging. The percentage of job postings targeted at beginners dropped from 8 percent in 2023 to 6 percent in 2024. Among candidates applying for junior-level positions, Frontend is the most popular, with an average of 370 CVs per job offer. On average, over 100 applications per junior-level job offer are standard across eight categories, including Frontend, Project Management, UX/UI/Design, AI, Backend, Fullstack, Data & BI, and Testing.