India’s Tech Hiring Drops 24% at Start of 2026: Xpheno

India’s technology sector began 2026 with subdued hiring activity, as active job openings fell to around 103,000 in January, according to staffing firm Xpheno.  

This was 24% lower than the 136,000 openings recorded in January 2025. The figure represents the second-lowest level of active tech hiring seen in the last six years. 

Sharp Drop from Earlier Years 

While the January 2026 count was marginally higher than the 102,000 roles seen in January 2024, it remains well below earlier levels.  

Active tech job demand had crossed 260,000 roles in early 2022, following strong post-pandemic hiring. Current demand is nearly 60% lower than that peak, showing the scale of the decline. 

Tech Sector’s Reduced Share 

The technology sector has also lost its position as the main contributor to overall job openings. Since 2022, non-tech sectors have accounted for a larger share of active jobs.  

Over the past 3 years, the tech sector has crossed the 50% contribution mark only twice. As of January 2026, its share stood at about 52%. 

Declines Across Experience Levels 

Hiring has slowed across job categories. Entry-level openings were down 18% from a year earlier.  

Mid-senior roles declined 12%, while senior-level openings fell 22%. Full-time roles made up around 79,000 openings but were 5% lower than December and 24% lower year-on-year. Contract, internship and part-time hiring remained limited. 

GCC Hiring Shows Relative Growth 

Global capability centres (GCCs) accounted for about 17,000 active openings, or 16% of total tech demand. GCC hiring increased 13% compared with December and was up 7% from a year earlier.  

Core technology and engineering roles formed 58% of total active demand, though overall hiring in these functions was down 37% year-on-year. 

Read More: Meta, Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix Hiring Ramps Up in India as H-1B Rules Tighten! 

Conclusion 

Xpheno said the prolonged slowdown shows continued uncertainty in the services sector, limited visibility on large deals and higher focus on automation and productivity. While GCCs continue to add roles, overall tech hiring remained under pressure at the start of 2026. 

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