India’s tech landscape is entering December with major shifts. Talent movement is changing fast. Yet companies are still cautious. As a result, the jobs market is sending mixed signals today.
Demand climbs slowly despite yearlong weakness
To begin with, the total active tech jobs count now stands at around 1.04 lakh, as per staffing firm Xpheno’s analysis. This is only a slight rise from last month. Therefore, the broader slowdown continues even though the month-on-month increase seems positive.
However, the deeper comparison reveals the challenge. Current demand is 26% lower than December 2024. Global spending cuts and pressure in the US market remain the biggest reasons behind this drop.
Even with this slump, tech roles have reclaimed their earlier edge. They now form 51% of all active openings. This shift shows that core industries are still leaning on technology even during volatile cycles.
Flexible work styles make a gradual comeback
Interestingly, flexible roles are returning. Remote and hybrid models had declined sharply after companies pushed employees back to offices. But things are changing again.
Now, nearly one-third of IT openings fall under flexible structures. Consequently, firms are using hybrid work to improve utilisation and control margins. Posting activity is also getting fresher, with 42% of openings updated within the last two weeks.
Full-time roles still dominate with 83,000 openings. Yet this category has dipped slightly. Meanwhile, contract, part-time and internship jobs continue to stay muted, with declines ranging between 16% and 25% year-on-year.
IT services shrink while GCC hiring surges
The IT services sector is still under stress. Active openings have fallen to 41,000. This represents a 5% drop from November and a 20% fall from last year.
On the other hand, Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are expanding fast. Their hiring has jumped 25% month-on-month, reaching 15,000 openings. This sharp difference shows a clear shift in where tech jobs are growing.
Core engineering functions still drive most of the demand. Yet they have declined 2% from last month and 30% from last year. In contrast, consulting and advisory roles are rising steadily. Consulting jobs alone grew 25% compared to November.
Distribution shifts across Indian cities
Metro cities still command 67% of total openings. But their demand has dropped 41% year-on-year. Meanwhile, tier-2 and tier-3 locations are expanding. They have seen a strong 20% rise, showing how companies are spreading talent hubs across smaller cities.
Work-from-office remains the most common format at 69% of all openings. Hybrid roles are increasing by 10%. Yet remote jobs continue to fall, with a 9% decline.
Together, these shifts reveal a jobs market that is reshaping itself quietly but steadily.
