IT unemployment hits 7.2% as layoffs continue
The IT sector is going through a tough time, with unemployment rising to 7.2%—the highest since 2021.
Companies are now hiring fewer people overall and are mainly looking for those with in-demand digital skills like cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and GenAI.
Instahyre says net job growth is just 1.8%, showing that the industry is being extra selective about who they bring on.
Selective hiring in digital skills only
Big names like Coforge and Mphasis have seriously slashed hiring, and TCS let go of nearly 20,000 employees.
Sarbojit Mallick from Instahyre points out that while almost a quarter of IT employers reported layoffs, about 40% are still searching for talent in areas like cloud computing, cybersecurity, and GenAI.
Neeti Sharma from TeamLease Digital adds that only around 15-20% of STEM grads are landing tech jobs lately—so having specialized digital skills really matters right now.