India tech hiring demand dips; active job openings fall 24% year-on-year, report says

India’s technology employment market opened 2026 on a softer footing, with hiring demand showing a sharp year-on-year decline, according to a report from specialist staffing firm Xpheno. The report said active tech job openings were about 103,000, down 24% from the same period a year earlier, signalling that the slowdown that characterised much of 2025 is spilling into the new year.

What the slowdown looks like on the ground

The report indicated that while overall demand contracted, the impact isn’t uniform across levels. Entry-level hiring showed some resilience, but mid-senior and senior demand was weaker, pointing to a market where companies are cautious about adding higher-cost roles while still maintaining pipelines for foundational talent in select areas.

Why job openings are a key signal

Active job openings are often treated as a leading indicator because they reflect what firms plan to do next, not what they did last quarter. A sustained drop can signal delayed project starts, tighter budgets, fewer new client additions, or a shift toward productivity gains and internal redeployment rather than external hiring.

What to watch through 2026

If the demand remains subdued, candidates may see longer hiring cycles, narrower role definitions and stronger emphasis on proven skills. For employers, the period can push more selective recruitment—focusing on roles tied to revenue, platform stability and cost-saving automation—while deferring expansionary hiring until global tech spending and domestic demand become clearer.

• Active tech openings reported at ~103,000
• Year-on-year decline: 24%
• Entry-level relatively steadier than mid/senior roles
• Hiring sentiment remains cautious after a slow 2025