SaaS Hiring Trends

US National SaaS Hiring Trends

• Niche skills in AI/ML engineering, data analytics, and DevOps are in increasing demand because of innovation in SaaS products and services.
• Smaller SaaS firms are using remote and hybrid work to attract flexible talent, even as large tech companies reduce remote work.
• The gig economy is growing in SaaS, with more freelancers and contract workers being hired for short-term projects.
• AI and predictive analytics are transforming recruitment, enabling companies to identify high-potential candidates and streamline workflows.
• Employee retention is being prioritized via flexible career paths, upskilling programs, and competitive benefits, due to rising hiring costs.

Boston SaaS Hiring Trends

• Boston's SaaS sector is predicted to grow by 22% in 2025, creating high demand for skilled professionals.
• Proactive recruitment strategies, including sourcing and networking, are needed to attract top candidates due to a competitive environment.
• Boston-based SaaS companies are adopting AI-native applications; 45% of SaaS leaders view AI accessibility as a key adoption factor.

US National SaaS Layoffs in Q1 2025

• Salesforce laid off ~1,000 employees in February 2025, including managers, directors, salespeople, and marketers, to shift resources to AI.
• Workday laid off 1,750 employees (8.5% of its workforce) in February, to align resources with AI initiatives.
• Stripe reduced its workforce by 300 employees (3.5%) in January, mainly in product, engineering, and operations.
• Sprinklr laid off 500 employees (15% of its workforce) in February 2025 due to underperforming business metrics; it is refocusing on AI.
• Wayfair announced layoffs of 340 employees in its Technology division in March 2025 due to completing its technology infrastructure modernization.
• Brightcove laid off 198 employees, including 65 in Massachusetts, after being acquired by Bending Spoons; two-thirds of the US workforce are affected between mid-March and July 2025.
• Toast, a restaurant management software firm, cut ~550 employees (10% of its workforce) in February 2025 as part of a restructuring to improve operational efficiency.
• Flywire, a payments company, laid off 125 employees (10% of its workforce) in February 2025 to increase productivity and optimize investments.
• Commercetools announced 10% workforce layoffs in February 2025, including sales and marketing roles, because of missed sales growth targets.

US Competitor 2025 Hiring Trends

• Smartsheet is focusing on AI-driven automation and enterprise collaboration tools, which is increasing demand for AI engineers and data analysts with no significant layoffs reported in 2025.
• Mendix is expanding its low-code platform which is creating demand for developers and UX designers; no major layoffs have been reported.
• Monday.com is hiring for roles relating to AI integration, customer success, and global expansion; no significant layoffs have been reported.
• Asana laid off of 77 employees in February 2025 as part of restructuring efforts to concentrate on AI-driven solutions.
• Kissflow is shifting from land-motion procurement to expand motion, creating demand for sales and marketing roles.
• Workfront (Adobe) is integrating its tools with Adobe's Creative Cloud to bring in cloud engineering and enterprise integration, with no significant layoffs reported.

Recommendations to Employers

• Use AI tools to streamline candidate sourcing, screening, and initial communications to reduce time-to-hire.
• Recruitment and onboarding should be tailored to individual candidate preferences, enhancing their experience.
• Expedite hiring cycles with efficient workflows and decision-making to avoid losing candidates.
• Consider a balance between technical skills and cultural fit, to ensure you hire candidates who can perform and integrate with your team.
• Seek candidates with experience in managing and integrating SaaS platforms, mainly for roles like SaaS platform managers and integration specialists.
• Compensation packages and recruitment should also accommodate to remote work, also includes market-based salary structures and roles that support remote work.
• For industry-specific solutions, prioritize candidates with both technical and deep industry knowledge, especially for roles like product and customer success managers.

Summary

• Q1 2025's hiring market shows a shift towards remote work and flexible job arrangements.
• Companies are seeking candidates with digital skills and virtual collaboration experience.
• Software developers, data analysts, and cybersecurity experts are highly sought after, along with AI/ML professionals.
• Demand is increasing for AI specialists like AI engineers, data scientists, and machine learning experts.
• Boston is a key tech talent hub, some tech firms layoffs are creating opportunities for talent acquisition.
• Brightcove laid off 198 and Wayfair laid off 340 employees in 2025 as part of operational and post-acquisition adjustments.
• Job seekers want competitive salaries, benefits, career growth, diversity, and inclusion.
• Companies face challenges in attracting and retaining talent, requiring innovative recruitment and employee engagement strategies.

Bulgaria SaaS Hiring Trends

• AI and machine learning integration drives demand for AI engineers, data scientists, and machine learning specialists, especially for AI-driven solutions.
• Cloud computing and DevOps also drive demand for cloud architects and DevOps engineers who are valuable in managing scalable, secure, and efficient cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
• Increasing cyber threats have brought a need for cybersecurity analysts and specialists who implement advanced threat detection and AI-driven security for digital assets.
• Data scientists using big data, AI, and predictive analytics remain in demand for decision-making and building personalization engines.
• The IT sector faces slower growth, hiring freezes, and reduced job postings with Noble Hire reporting a 50% decrease in open positions.
• Employers focus on skills over education, opening opportunities for those with relevant technical skills.
• Bulgaria's tech and startup ecosystem is thriving, driving demand for SaaS professionals.

Bulgaria Competitor 2025 Hiring Trends

• Smartsheet is expanding its operations into Bulgaria to grow its engineering talent pool and enhance its global presence.
• Smartsheet is establishing a local entity in Bulgaria in H1 2025, initially hiring through a third-party employer before transitioning to full-time roles.
• The Bulgaria office is focused on software engineering roles, including Senior Software Engineers, Software Engineers, and Principal Software Engineers, related to platform development.
• Positions in Bulgaria are remote-eligible, allowing flexibility while maintaining collaboration with global teams.
• Hiring focuses on roles such as Senior Software Engineer I, Software Engineer I, and Principal Software Engineer, which contribute to the development lifecycle.

Bulgaria SaaS Layoffs in Q1 2025

• No widely reported layoffs in Bulgaria's IT and SaaS sectors but a broader labor market study notes workforce reductions in 2025 planned by 17,000 Bulgarian companies, a 37% increase from the previous year.
• Following Broadcom's acquisition, VMware laid off over 1,700 employees in Bulgaria.
• Limited layoffs occurred since the start of the year, with the manufacturing/automotive sector experiencing the most losses.

Summary

• The IT sector faces a pseudo-recession, with slower growth, hiring freezes, and reduced job postings.
• Late 2024 layoffs lead to talent redistribution as companies focus on cost efficiency and operational streamlining.
• Some IT companies like those in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, continue to hire skilled SaaS professionals.
• Smartsheet is establishing a new operation in Bulgaria in 2025, focusing on software engineering roles, with initial hiring through a third-party employer and planned transition to full-time roles.