August 4, 2025

Amidst a backdrop of layoffs at many global firms, India remains a bustling hub for Big Tech hiring. Recently released data from staffing firm Xpheno shows that companies under the FAAMNG umbrella—which includes Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, and Google—have collectively increased their headcount in India by 16% over the past year. This translates to over 28,000 new positions, marking a solid growth in a time when most other sectors are downsizing. With a total headcount exceeding 208,000, these companies demonstrate a healthy appetite for talent in the country, despite significant downsizing in regions like the US. Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, notes that the current hiring pace remains healthy, especially with the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) potentially influencing both the speed and quantity of hiring. This is particularly interesting given that many organizations have also announced layoffs, with an estimated global figure of around 100,000 employees laid off. Comparatively, the larger Indian IT services firms have seen quite a different scenario. For instance, the top six firms experienced a 22% rise in headcount year-on-year in 2022 but followed this with a decline of 0.2% in 2023 and a further drop of 3.1% in 2024. As of mid-2025, their collective workforce only grew by 1.3%, to 1,625,646. In a significant industry shock, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced layoffs of 12,000 mid- to senior-level employees in response to a skills mismatch in their project deployments. This has raised concerns about the stability of the Indian IT sector, as major firms, once seen as robust players, are now adjusting significantly. Nevertheless, despite the layoffs in the broader tech landscape, the impact in India seems somewhat muted. According to Neeti Sharma, CEO of IT staffing firm TeamLease Digital, the volume of layoffs affecting India hasn't reached the levels seen globally. However, hiring is becoming more selective, with a sharp focus on specific skill areas such as AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, while traditional support roles experience a notable hiring downturn. She highlights that some roles are becoming redundant as new needs arise, making it crucial for professionals to upskill and adapt to changes in demand. The pressures on employees are mounting as well. The demand to upskill particularly in domains like AI and cloud is critical as companies look to maintain their competitive edge and foster innovation in a tighter talent market Quess IT Staffing reflects these trends, noting a dip of 3-6% in tech hiring in the last quarter of FY2025, but with a notable rise of about 8-10% in the opening months of FY2026. This showcases an interesting contradiction in the narrative of layoffs abroad versus active hiring in India, largely fueled by the expanding capabilities of Global Capability Centres (GCCs). These centers are increasingly taking on sophisticated projects, including the development of AI-driven tools and advanced cloud platforms. Industry analysts stress that while balancing costs, companies must also focus on cultivating innovation through efficient employee training and proactively closing talent gaps. And as the battle for top talents heats up, the tech giants in India are sharpening their hiring strategies to not only fill positions but to attract the best candidates from a narrowing talent pool. Companies are recognizing that with the rapid pace of technological advancement, especially in AI and cloud services, the need for specialized skills is paramount, prompting a shift in hiring trends. The emphasis on creating leaner teams of highly skilled workers signifies a new era for not only Big Tech but for the entire IT landscape in India. In this environment, professionals will need to continually evolve their skills to keep up with the demands of employers, especially as employers focus on retaining top talent and streamlining their teams.

Read More at News →

Tags: It services, Hiring, Big tech, Ai, Employment,