September 30, 2025
For the past decade, Python developers and JavaScript engineers have dominated the technology landscape. From web applications to machine learning and automation, these two languages remain the backbone of most organisations’ technology stacks. But as technology advances and business needs evolve, new emerging programming languages are gaining ground.
For hiring managers, company owners, and senior technology leaders, these trends matter. The languages you choose to build with directly influence not just your product but also your talent acquisition strategy. Scarce skills create hiring challenges, while early adopters often benefit from a competitive edge. Here are the programming languages to watch in 2025 and 2026, and what they mean for hiring and recruitment.
Why look beyond Python and JavaScript?
Python and JavaScript are not going anywhere, but neither solves every problem. Python can struggle with performance bottlenecks, while JavaScript faces increasing ecosystem complexity. For companies scaling fast, moving into AI, Web3, cloud-native development, or real-time applications, new languages promise greater speed, safety, or flexibility.
The catch is that early adoption creates hiring gaps. Demand often outpaces supply, leading to talent shortages and higher salary premiums. Understanding these dynamics is essential for building a workforce strategy that works.
Languages to Watch in 2025–2026
Rust
Rust is increasingly used where performance and security matter most. Companies like Amazon and Microsoft use it for infrastructure and systems code, while Dropbox relies on Rust for its file sync engine. It’s most beneficial for building scalable, reliable backend systems and replacing legacy C/C++ without the same safety risks.
Hiring tip: Experienced Rust developers are scarce. Expect longer hiring timelines and higher salary competition as adoption grows.
Go (Golang)
Go is a go-to language for cloud infrastructure and DevOps. Backed by Google, it powers microservices, fintech platforms, and high-traffic APIs. Its strength is in handling distributed systems simply and efficiently, which explains why it is common in startups and scale-ups adopting cloud-native approaches.
Hiring tip: The Go talent pool is maturing, but demand remains high. Hiring managers need to offer compelling projects and competitive packages to secure the best Golang engineers.
Kotlin
Originally known for Android, Kotlin is now growing in backend and cross-platform development. It’s beneficial for companies modernising Java-heavy systems or building new apps with fewer lines of code. Adoption is expanding across enterprises that want flexible, developer-friendly tools without abandoning the JVM ecosystem.
Hiring tip: The Kotlin developer pool is growing but still tight compared to demand. Businesses may need to combine targeted recruitment with upskilling pathways.
Swift
Swift remains essential for iOS and macOS applications but is also branching into server-side and AR/VR development. With Apple’s investment in spatial computing through Vision Pro, Swift will be crucial for businesses building immersive experiences and apps across Apple’s ecosystem.
Hiring tip: Swift engineers are established in the market, but competition remains strong. Emphasise opportunities to innovate and work on cutting-edge Apple projects to attract talent.
Julia
Julia shines in AI, machine learning, and numerical computing. Organisations like NASA and MIT use it for research requiring high-performance data handling. It’s most beneficial in industries where data science and computation-heavy workloads drive competitive advantage.
Hiring tip: Finding Julia developers is highly challenging due to the small pool. Many organisations look to retrain existing Python or R specialists.
Zig
Zig is still early-stage but popular in systems programming and security circles as a simpler alternative to C. While talent is scarce, it’s attractive for businesses needing lightweight, high-performance tools where resource usage and safety are critical.
Hiring tip: Zig programmers are exceptionally rare, making this a long-term play. Businesses often recruit from open-source communities or build in-house expertise.
Elixir
Built for real-time applications, Elixir is used by Discord and Pinterest to handle millions of concurrent users. It is most beneficial for messaging, IoT, and systems that need to stay online 24/7. Its strength lies in high concurrency and fault tolerance.
Hiring tip: While the Elixir developer pool is small, the language attracts engineers motivated by working on scalable, always-on systems. Highlighting innovation is key in hiring campaigns.
What this means for hiring and recruitment
The rise of these languages highlights a critical issue for business leaders: talent scarcity. With limited pools of experienced developers, companies can face longer hiring timelines, increased competition, and higher costs. To address this, businesses should consider:
- Upskilling vs external hiring: Some languages may be better filled by retraining current staff rather than relying solely on external recruitment.
- Employer branding: Developers working in emerging languages are attracted to companies seen as innovative. Highlighting projects, culture, and future vision is key.
- Strategic recruitment partnerships: Specialist recruiters with access to niche talent networks can shorten hiring timelines and improve outcomes.
Practical takeaways for leaders
- Assess whether your roadmap truly requires a niche language or if mainstream options suffice.
- Anticipate longer hiring cycles for Rust developers, Julia engineers, and Zig programmers due to scarcity.
- Develop internal training pathways to retain staff and future-proof your team.
- Work with recruitment partners who understand emerging programming language markets and can source scarce talent.
Conclusion
Python and JavaScript remain dominant, but businesses looking ahead to 2026 cannot ignore the shift toward languages like Rust, Go, Kotlin, Swift, Julia, Zig, and Elixir. Each comes with unique business advantages and unique recruitment challenges.
The companies that plan their hiring strategies now will be best positioned to attract and retain the talent needed to stay competitive. If your organisation is exploring new technologies or considering building teams with emerging programming languages, partnering with a recruiter who understands this market will be essential to your success.
Whether you’re planning to adopt Rust, Go, or Elixir, the right talent strategy makes all the difference.
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