Growth in the technology industry is finally reflected in employment
Employment in the technology industry began to rise in the third quarter of 2026, recording its strongest quarterly growth in almost three years. Order books, new orders, production and turnover have also increased.
The number of employees in the technology industry increased by around 900 in July–September, reaching 331,100 at the end of September. Quarterly employment growth was the strongest since early 2023. The increase was particularly strong in mechanical engineering, where employment reached its highest level since the financial crisis. Employee numbers also rose in the metals industry and consulting engineering.
At the end of September, the value of order books was 34 per cent higher than a year earlier, while the value of new orders increased by 50 per cent year-on-year in July–September, driven particularly by the marine and defence industries.