India’s tech hiring demand drops as active openings fall 24% year-on-year: Xpheno report

India’s technology sector entered 2026 with a sharp slowdown in hiring demand, as active tech job openings fell 24% year-on-year to about 1.03 lakh roles, according to specialist staffing firm Xpheno. The report said hiring stayed sluggish through late 2025 and showed little sign of a broad rebound at the start of the new year.

What the numbers indicate

The study described the January 2026 demand level as among the weakest since January 2021, and nearly 60% below the early-2022 peak when the market saw more than 2.6 lakh active openings. It also noted a small month-on-month dip, reflecting that the slowdown is not just a year-on-year base effect but part of a longer soft patch in tech hiring.

Which roles are being affected

The findings pointed to a mixed picture across seniority levels. While entry-level roles saw a slight increase, the report said mid-senior and senior openings declined, suggesting firms are being more cautious about expanding leadership and specialised staffing, even as some pipeline hiring continues.

What this could mean for candidates and employers

• Fewer open roles overall, with sharper cuts at mid-to-senior levels
• Greater competition for experienced positions in product, engineering and corporate tech functions
• A continued shift towards selective hiring instead of broad-based headcount expansion
• Potentially longer hiring cycles as companies tighten approvals

The report frames the slowdown as a continuation of weak hiring sentiment across 2025, with the tech sector’s share in overall job creation also easing. For jobseekers, this environment typically rewards targeted applications, domain depth and demonstrable impact, while employers may use the lull to prioritise critical roles over speculative growth hiring.