There's a disconnect in the tech hiring market. Recent data shows that 49% of U.S. tech employers planned to add staff in Q1 2026, yet many roles remain unfilled. In specialized fields like AI, job postings for technical roles have reached an all-time high of 45%.
Many hiring frameworks still prioritize "unicorn" candidates, people with deep experience in tools and workflows that are evolving faster than most teams can update their job descriptions. When organizations are too picky, open seats linger, delivery slows, and teams miss out on capable talent that can quickly grow into the role.
Per Scholas Executive Vice President Brittany Murrey recently argued in an article for Forbes that scaling now requires a shift toward learning agility.
Agility and Success
Learning agility is the ability to apply lessons from past experiences to new, unfamiliar situations. Research shows this trait is more predictive of long-term performance than years of experience alone. In a technical landscape where tools and expectations evolve quickly, hiring for adaptability is often a more sustainable strategy than hiring for a static checklist.
To put this into practice, organizations can make a few practical changes:
- Rewrite job descriptions: Focus on competencies and outcomes instead of credentials and rigid years of experience.
- Incorporate practical testing: Use assessments tied to real job tasks to better predict performance.
- Evaluate indicators of potential: Train hiring managers to assess problem-solving, learning agility, and adaptability during interviews.
Converting Potential Into Proficiency
At Per Scholas, our model is built on these principles. We identify high-potential talent and provide the instructor-led, role-aligned training necessary to ensure day-one readiness. Our partners find that focusing on agility and verified skills drives significantly higher retention and lower hiring costs compared to traditional sources.
The full framework in Forbes provides a deeper look into how leaders can de-risk their talent strategy and build resilient teams from the ground up.