India’s IT Hiring Sees Strong Rebound In 2025 On GCC And AI-Led Demand

India’s information technology job market recorded robust growth in 2025, with hiring demand rising 16 per cent year-on-year, driven largely by the expansion of global capability centres (GCCs) and increasing requirements for emerging digital skills, according to a report by Quess Corp.

The ‘IT Workforce Trends in India 2025’ report estimates total demand at around 1.8 million IT roles during the year.

More than half of these roles focused on new-age digital capabilities, while legacy technology skills accounted for less than 10 per cent of overall demand, continuing a steady decline.

GCCs significantly strengthened their presence in the Indian hiring landscape, accounting for nearly 27 per cent of total IT job demand in 2025, up sharply from about 15 per cent a year earlier.

Product and software-as-a-service firms also expanded hiring, though in a more selective manner. In contrast, IT services and consulting firms posted only modest growth, while startup recruitment slowed to low single-digit levels amid tighter funding conditions.

Hiring patterns in 2025 showed a clear preference for experienced professionals. Mid-career talent with four to ten years of experience made up about 65 per cent of total recruitment, compared with 50 per cent in 2024.

Entry-level hiring accounted for just 15 per cent of demand, underscoring the industry’s tilt towards productivity-ready candidates.

Skills in High Demand

The report highlighted strong growth in demand for skills such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud engineering, DevOps and cybersecurity, all of which expanded faster than traditional software development roles.

Salary growth was most pronounced in next-generation technology positions, with premiums ranging from 10 to 40 per cent for roles including generative AI specialists, MLOps and LLMOps engineers, AI ethics and governance leads, FinOps professionals, cyber threat intelligence analysts and platform engineering architects.

IT recruitment remained heavily concentrated in Tier-1 cities, which accounted for nearly 88–90 per cent of total hiring in 2025.

The average time-to-hire extended to 45–60 days, reflecting increased competition and more rigorous evaluation processes. For niche roles in AI/ML and cybersecurity, hiring timelines stretched further to 75–90 days.

Kapil Joshi, CEO of IT staffing at Quess, said demand remained strongest for mid-career professionals as roles in India grew more complex. The report projects sustained hiring momentum through 2026, led by specialised digital roles and gradual expansion beyond Tier-1 cities.

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