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Will AI Make Engineer Staffing Obsolete? Companies Share Their On-the-Ground View, with Clearly Shifting Demand for Talent

AI1 min read

Some people think AI will end the need for outside engineers sent to companies by staffing firms. At an IT trade show in Japan, staffing companies said demand has not fallen, but the skills companies want have clearly changed.

What happened

At Japan IT Week Autumn 2026, a trade show in Makuhari, Japan, ITmedia asked companies that send engineers to other businesses whether AI makes them unnecessary. None of the companies that answered said demand was falling. However, they said the kind of engineer companies want is changing.

Key facts

  • The show ran from October 21 to 23, 2026.
  • Levatech (Shibuya, Tokyo) said its results are growing steadily, even though some clients think AI could replace most engineering work.
  • Levatech also offers a service that helps people who only write code learn AI skills.
  • Persol & ServerWorks (Chiyoda, Tokyo) trains and sends out engineers who specialize in AWS, a cloud computing service from Amazon.

The background

Some people say AI will soon write most computer code, so companies will not need to hire outside engineers. Staffing firms help companies find engineers, either on contract or as freelancers. Because AI is changing quickly, people are asking whether this business will shrink.

Why it matters

Engineers who only follow exact instructions to write simple code may be less valued. Companies now want people who can control AI, decide how it should work, and explain how technology can solve a customer's goal. Students who learn both technology and communication may have an advantage.

What to watch

  • Whether companies keep hiring outside engineers as AI tools get better.
  • How many engineers learn AI skills through training programs.
  • Whether people from sales or business backgrounds become engineers, as one Persol & ServerWorks leader suggested.

Glossary

Japan IT Week
A large trade show in Japan where companies show IT products and services.
Levatech
A Tokyo company that helps IT workers find jobs and matches freelancers with projects.
Persol & ServerWorks
A Tokyo company that trains and sends out engineers who work with AWS cloud technology.
AWS
Amazon Web Services, a cloud computing service that runs websites and apps over the internet.

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