India tech hiring intent drops 24% at the start of 2026, report says
A report by staffing firm Xpheno said India’s active tech job openings fell 24% year-on-year at the start of 2026, extending a sluggish hiring environment after a softer 2025 and signalling continued caution across mid-senior and senior roles.
- Reporting desk
- Health India Network News Desk
- First published
Tech jobs demand begins 2026 on a softer footing
India’s technology job market started 2026 with a notable slowdown in hiring intent, as active tech openings were reported to have fallen 24% compared to a year earlier. The findings, attributed to specialist staffing firm Xpheno, suggest demand for tech roles remains subdued after a slower hiring cycle through much of 2025.
The reported figure, around 103,000 active openings, was described as among the weakest levels of demand seen since early 2021. The data point is being read as another signal that employers are maintaining tighter headcount discipline, prioritising productivity and cost management over rapid expansion.
Role mix shifts: entry-level steadier, senior demand weaker
The report indicated that while entry-level roles showed a modest improvement, demand declined for mid-senior and senior positions. That pattern is consistent with organisations slowing new leadership and specialist additions while still needing early-career capacity for operational and delivery work.
Such a shift can have ripple effects across the talent ecosystem: lateral hiring becomes more competitive, salary inflation cools in some categories, and professionals may see longer timelines for switching roles or negotiating upgrades. For fresh graduates, however, the picture can look comparatively more stable if companies choose to backfill with lower-cost talent.
What could change the outlook in 2026
The trajectory for the rest of 2026 is likely to depend on client spending in major export markets, the pace of enterprise tech modernisation, and whether new investment cycles accelerate in areas like cloud, cybersecurity, AI tooling and data engineering. Any easing of global uncertainty could help, but the near-term hiring stance appears cautious.
For jobseekers, the environment implies greater emphasis on demonstrable skills and project outcomes, with companies expected to be selective on senior hiring and more rigorous in screening for specialised roles.