BW Research partnered with the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation to develop the 2026 Talent Demand Report, examining workforce demand across priority business, computing, engineering, and life sciences occupations in the San Diego region. The report highlights the talent needs shaping some of the region’s most important industries and provides insights to support workforce, education, and economic development efforts.
A workforce survey of 355 companies in San Diego County was fielded in March 2026, focused on priority occupations across business, computing, engineering, and life sciences. Findings include:
- San Diego employers anticipate increased hiring across highly technical and skilled roles.
- Software developers, assemblers, and information security analysts are among the occupations with the strongest projected growth.
- 83% of lab tech organizations are planning to grow or maintain their workforce in the coming year.
- Hiring challenges are driven primarily by a lack of relevant training and education among applicants.
- Work-based learning and relevant certifications will be central to meeting employer demand.
View the full Talent Demand report here.
