Each month, TechServe Alliance brings senior leaders together for candid, peer-level conversations about what’s happening on the ground in IT and engineering staffing. Across recent Executive Roundtables, several consistent themes have emerged—reflecting both cautious optimism and the realities of operating in a selective, competitive market. 

Below are highlights from the discussions. More detailed insights from the February Executive Roundtables will be shared during TechServe’s upcoming State of the Industry webinar on Thursday, Feb. 12.

1. Early 2026 performance signals cautious optimism — but it’s uneven 

Many firms reported a stronger-than-expected start to 2026, including profitable Januaries and improving pipelines. However, momentum varies widely by sector, client, and region. Leaders emphasized diversification and execution discipline to sustain growth in a still-selective hiring environment. 

2. Sales execution and accountability matter more than market conditions

Across discussions, underperformance was more often attributed to activity gaps and unclear KPIs than to a lack of demand. While new sales hires continue to require long ramp times, firms seeing results are tightly managing expectations, tracking leading indicators, and acting quickly when activity levels fall short. 

3. AI is becoming table stakes — with human oversight required 

Firms are increasingly adopting AI for screening, fraud detection, data enrichment, and workflow efficiency. The consensus: AI is delivering meaningful time savings and risk reduction, but human judgment, transparency, and client communication remain essential to protecting trust and outcomes. 

4. Candidate fraud and compliance risk are rising strategic concerns 

Fraudulent candidates, remote-work verification, nearshore partnerships, and state-by-state compliance requirements are creating new operational risk. Leaders are responding with stronger vetting tools, clearer contract language, and more proactive client communication to preserve credibility and margin. 

5. Operational discipline is a competitive advantage 

High-performing firms are doubling down on fundamentals: recruiter productivity metrics, margin management, consultant care, and frequent feedback loops. Rather than chasing growth at all costs, leaders are prioritizing sustainable profitability, retention, and consistent execution. 

TechServe members can explore these themes in more depth by registering for the upcoming State of the Industry webinar on Thursday, February 12, led by Mark Roberts, CEO of TechServe Alliance, and Michael Allen, Founder and Principal Consultant at Data Minds Optimization. 

This refreshed State of the Industry webinar introduces a more data-driven format—bringing together insights from TechServe’s modernized IT & Engineering Employment Index, executive sentiment and market signals, key legislative and regulatory developments, early learnings from TechServe BenchmarkPro (TechServe’s new automated benchmarking dashboard), and analysis of public staffing company performance.