Quantum Computing: The Emerging Tech You Need to Know About
Over the past two years, Artificial Intelligence has dominated conversations in the technology world. From generative AI tools transforming productivity to machine learning models driving innovation across industries, it feels as though every business leader is talking about AI. But while AI rightly gets the headlines, there is another disruptive technology quietly moving closer to mainstream adoption: Quantum Computing.
Quantum computing has long been considered a “future” technology, reserved for research labs and experimental projects. However, 2025 is seeing genuine progress towards commercial use cases. Tech giants such as IBM, Google and Microsoft are investing heavily, while specialist start-ups like IonQ and Rigetti are making breakthroughs in building more stable and scalable quantum systems. Early applications are being explored in areas like:
- Pharmaceuticals – drug discovery and molecular modelling at unprecedented speed
- Finance – advanced risk modelling and fraud detection
- Cybersecurity – development of new post-quantum encryption standards
- Logistics – solving optimisation problems far faster than classical computers
So, what does this mean for the tech recruitment market?
A New Wave of Specialist Roles
As organisations experiment with quantum solutions, demand is emerging for a new breed of specialist. Roles are beginning to appear in:
- Quantum software engineering
- Quantum algorithm design
- Quantum hardware and systems engineering
- Hybrid roles that combine classical machine learning with quantum approaches
Just as the AI boom created urgent demand for data scientists and ML engineers, the rise of quantum computing is expected to reshape talent needs across the technology sector. Importantly, these skills are in very short supply. Most professionals currently working in quantum are based in academic research, meaning businesses moving into this space will face fierce competition for talent.
Preparing for the Future of Hiring
While we are still at the early stages of adoption, forward-thinking companies are already preparing their recruitment strategies. Investing in upskilling, building links with universities and positioning themselves as attractive employers to highly specialised talent will be key.
At Profectus Recruitment, we have seen first-hand how quickly emerging technologies change the hiring landscape. AI may be front of mind for most organisations right now, but quantum computing is set to become a major part of the conversation over the next decade. For businesses, the key will be acting early, recognising the skills they will need and starting the journey to attract and retain them.