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Big Tech continues to hire in India even as local majors downsize – The Economic Times


Indian IT companies majors could also be trimming their workforce, however for Huge Tech, it’s nonetheless hiring season in India.

International giants below the FAAMNG umbrella – Fb father or mother Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, and Google – have grown their India headcount throughout their very own and their affiliate entities by 16% over the previous 12 months, information from staffing agency Xpheno confirmed.

The tempo of progress is barely larger than 15% within the 12 months to August 2024.

FAAMNG noticed over 28,000 web worker additions up to now one yr. The present estimated collective headcount throughout their entities in India is over 208,000, in keeping with Xpheno.

The hiring price “is comparatively wholesome, particularly with the excitement of AI probably impacting tempo and quantity of hiring,” mentioned Kamal Karanth, cofounder of Xpheno.

These corporations proceed to put up wholesome hiring demand within the nation, with energetic openings at 4,500 at the moment, regardless of executing large-scale layoffs within the US, with an estimated 100,000 laid off globally.

The Covid pandemic-induced hiring surge noticed web additions for the FAAMNG cohort develop 35% year-on-year in 2022, adopted by a slowdown to six% progress in 2023.

By comparability, the highest six Indian IT companies corporations noticed headcount additions soar 22% on yr in 2022, adopted by declines by 0.2% and three.1% in 2023 and 2024, respectively. As of June 2025, mixed headcount in these corporations grew 1.3% year-on-year to 1,625,646.

Nevertheless, the nation’s IT bellwether Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) on Sunday triggered shockwaves because it introduced layoff of 12,000 workers in mid-to-senior ranges, citing abilities mismatch in venture deployments.

Selective hiring

Whereas world giants have additionally introduced main layoffs in latest instances, India has seen a lesser influence in comparison with many different geographies, specialists famous.

“Whereas we do see a few of this affecting India, the volumes to this point are usually not as excessive as world numbers,” mentioned Neeti Sharma, CEO of IT staffing agency TeamLease Digital.

Additionally, hiring within the business is more and more selective, with a give attention to specialised abilities, particularly in synthetic intelligence (AI) and cloud.

“There’s a excessive demand for abilities corresponding to AI, cloud and cybersecurity,” whereas hiring is down for help and routine roles, particularly in standard applied sciences, Sharma mentioned.

“Few older roles will progressively change into redundant. Nevertheless, newer roles are being outlined,” she mentioned. “This transition is hard now, but it surely’s wanted to remain related.”

Staff face extra stress to carry out and upskill, particularly in AI and cloud, as corporations give attention to retaining prime expertise and constructing leaner groups, Sharma added.

As per Quess IT staffing, hiring by massive tech corporations in India dipped by 3-6% within the fourth quarter of FY2025 resulted in March. Nevertheless, it was up by about 8-10% within the first quarter FY2026, it mentioned.

“Whereas world tech corporations are making headlines for layoffs overseas, many are growing hiring in India, particularly via their GCCs,” mentioned Kapil Joshi, CEO of Quess IT Staffing.

India-based world functionality centres (GCCs) at the moment are doing extra high-end work, corresponding to growing AI instruments, cloud platforms, and new digital merchandise, he famous.

On the similar time, corporations are seeing the necessity to steadiness prices whereas growing give attention to innovation, specialists mentioned.

“They should practice folks quicker, shut expertise gaps, and compete for the perfect candidates in a good market,” Joshi mentioned.