IT hiring in India surges by 16% in 2025
What's the story
India's IT sector is witnessing a major revival, with job demand hitting 1.8 million roles in 2025. This marks a significant 16% increase from the previous year, according to the "IT Workforce Trends in India 2025" report by Quess Corp. The surge indicates a renewed vigor in hiring across the industry and is largely driven by Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and emerging technology talent.
Market drivers
GCCs and emerging tech talent drive IT job demand
The report highlights that GCCs have increased their share in India's IT hiring market to some 27% of total demand in 2025, up from around 15% last year. Meanwhile, product and SaaS companies have also selectively expanded their hiring. However, start-up hiring has declined amid funding moderation. The overall market remains heavily tilted toward productivity-ready talent with mid-career professionals (4-10 years of experience) accounting for a whopping 65% of total hiring.
Skill trends
AI, cloud skills in high demand
The report also notes a significant rise in demand for AI/ML, cloud engineering, DevOps and cybersecurity skills. In 2025, salary hikes were most pronounced in next-generation technology roles. Positions such as Generative AI specialists and cyber threat intelligence analysts saw premiums of 10% to 40%. The findings highlight the growing complexity of roles being created in India and the strong interest in these emerging digital capabilities.
Hiring patterns
IT hiring remains concentrated in Tier-1 cities
The report also highlights that IT hiring is heavily concentrated in Tier-1 cities, accounting for 88-90% of total demand in 2025. The average time-to-hire has also increased to 45-60 days, indicating fierce competition and stricter evaluation processes. For niche skills like AI/ML and cybersecurity, hiring timelines have further stretched to 75-90 days.
Future outlook
Continued momentum in IT hiring through 2026
The report predicts continued momentum in IT hiring through 2026, driven by specialized digital roles and steady expansion beyond Tier-1 cities. The demand is expected to be concentrated around AI, cloud, cybersecurity and data-led roles with BFSI, SaaS telecom and manufacturing being key hiring sectors. Overall, the report suggests that hiring activity will focus on capability-led growth rather than sheer volume expansion.