India's IT Sector Sees 16% Growth in Hiring, Driven by AI, Cloud, and GCCs

AI, cloud modernisation, GCCs drive IT hiring 16% up in April: Report

India's IT sector experienced a 16% year-on-year hiring surge in April, fueled by AI adoption, cloud modernisation, and GCC expansion. Skill-based hiring dominates, with AI/ML, cloud computing, and cybersecurity being top domains. Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, and Baroda saw remarkable growth, while metro hubs lead in leadership and specialist roles.Hiring in the IT sector grew 16% year-on-year in April, driven by factors such as AI adoption, cloud modernisation, and the continued expansion of Global Capability Centers (GCCs), a report said on Friday. India's IT hiring grew last month, marking a sharp rebound from fluctuations over previous years, the report 'the foundit Insights Tracker (fit)' by jobs platform foundit said. GCCs played a significant role in this hiring growth, contributing over 1,10,000 new tech jobs in FY25, and ramping up demand for roles like data engineering, DevOps, and enterprise architecture, it added. The foundit Insights Tracker is a comprehensive monthly analysis of online job posting activity conducted by foundit.in. The report further said that skill-based hiring continued to dominate, with 62% of IT employers prioritising practical expertise over formal qualifications. Top in-demand domains included AI/ML, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data analytics, which together account for 95% of job postings in the IT sector, it stated. Cities like Coimbatore (40%) Ahmedabad (17%), and Baroda (15%) recorded remarkable annual hiring growth driven by hybrid work models and cost advantages, said the report. Metro hubs like Bengaluru (9%), Mumbai (9%), and Delhi NCR (7%) continued to lead hiring for leadership and specialist roles, it added. Also Read: As Google layoffs continue, a look at Big Tech job cuts in 2025

Global Capability Centers (GCCs) add over 110,000 jobs as India's IT sector expands by 16%: foundit report

Skill-based hiring is now preferred by 62% of IT employers AI/ML, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and Data Analytics make up over 95% of current tech job postings According to recent data from jobs platform foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), hiring in India's IT sector grew by 16% year-on-year in April 2025, indicating steady momentum driven by factors such as AI adoption, cloud modernisation, and the continued expansion of Global Capability Centers (GCCs). While there was an 11% month-on-month dip due to seasonal trends, overall hiring activity over the past three months points to continued confidence in the tech talent market. GCCs played a significant role in this growth, contributing over 110,000 new tech jobs in FY24-25 and ramping up demand for roles like data engineering, DevOps, and enterprise architecture. "India's IT sector is entering a new era of strategic growth," said V. Suresh, CEO of foundit. "We are witnessing a clear shift from scale-based hiring to a strong focus on specialized, future-ready skills. This transformation reflects India's broader vision to empower its youth for global leadership in science and innovation, a message that holds particular relevance as we celebrate National Technology Day. While metros continue to drive demand for experienced talent, tier-2 cities are rapidly emerging as vibrant talent hubs. Together, they are shaping a resilient, innovation-led digital workforce that will power Viksit Bharat." IT sector maintains growth momentum India's IT hiring grew 16% year-on-year, marking a sharp rebound from fluctuations over previous years. Entry-level roles (0-3 years) accounted for 32% of hiring activity, rising 17% YoY, while mid-level roles (4-8 years) saw 24% growth, highlighting stable demand across experience levels. Experience Level YoY Growth (%) Key Roles in Demand Entry-Level (0-3 years) +17% Junior Developers, QA Testers, Support Engineers Mid-Level (4-8 years) +24% Software Engineers, Business Analysts, Technical leads. Senior-Level (9-15 years) +18% Solution Architects, Project Managers, Cybersecurity Heads Leadership (15+ years) +5% Senior tech leaders in GCCs and product-led firms, with expertise in niche domains Skills over degrees: A new paradigm Skill-based hiring continues to dominate, with 62% of IT employers prioritising practical expertise over formal qualifications. Top in-demand domains include AI/ML, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data analytics, which together account for 95% of job postings in the sector. Salary trends: AI expertise commands premium pay The IT & ITeS sector continues to lead salary growth. Entry-level AI roles start at ₹7.2 LPA, while senior AI professionals earn up to ₹76.4 LPA. Cybersecurity professionals earn even higher at the top end, with salaries reaching ₹87 LPA. Other lucrative areas include Computer Hardware (₹79.7 LPA) and Data Mining (₹45 LPA). In contrast, generalist roles in Information Services offer ₹2.2-₹32.2 LPA, underscoring the premium on niche skills. Tier-2 cities emerge as strong tech hubs Cities like Coimbatore (+40%) Ahmedabad (+17%), and Baroda (+15%) recorded remarkable annual hiring growth driven by hybrid work models and cost advantages. Metro hubs like Bengaluru (+9%), Mumbai (+9%), and Delhi NCR (+7%) continued to lead hiring for leadership and specialist roles. Roles powering enterprise transformation India's IT hiring trends highlight growing demand for specialised roles that drive enterprise innovation. Role YoY Growth AI/ML Engineers +28% Data Scientists +25% Cloud Architects +21% DevOps Engineers +19% Top skills powering this shift in the IT sector Skill % Share of Demand Cloud Computing +17% AI/ML +15% Data Science & Analytics +13% Cybersecurity +11% DevOps +10 Full Stack Development +9% Outlook for FY25: Sustained growth ahead India's IT sector is projected to grow by 15% in 2025, driven by rising demand for future-ready skills like AI/ML, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity. With AI adoption at 48% across industries, hiring for AI roles is expected to rise by 14%, signalling IT's continued dominance in India's digital market. The Growth of GCCs, Tier-2 city expansion, and hybrid work are expected to make tech hiring more inclusive and skills-focused in the coming year.