Tech hiring in India hits all-time low, software engineers worst hit

Tech-related hiring in India has hit an all-time low, with software engineers emerging as the hardest-hit group in a sweeping slowdown across the sector, a new study has found. The findings mark a stark reversal for an industry that was once among the country's most reliable engines of high-paying employment.

The study, reported by India Today, does not point to a single cause but the broad trend reflects a confluence of factors battering tech hiring globally: mass layoffs at large technology firms, a pullback in startup funding, and the accelerating adoption of AI tools that are replacing entry- and mid-level coding and software testing roles.

For India, the consequences are particularly acute. The country produces hundreds of thousands of engineering graduates annually, many of whom historically gravitated toward software and IT roles. A structural decline in demand for those roles — rather than a cyclical dip — would reshape career pathways and put pressure on engineering colleges to rethink curricula.

Industry observers note that demand has not vanished entirely: roles tied to AI, data science, and cybersecurity continue to see interest. But the volume of traditional software engineering positions has contracted sharply, leaving a large pool of candidates competing for a shrinking number of openings.

The findings are likely to intensify calls for upskilling programmes and policy interventions to help the existing workforce transition into emerging technology domains before the gap between supply and demand widens further.