ET Graphics: India's GCC boom will boost IT hiring in 2025

India’s information technology hiring witnessed a strong recovery in 2025, with demand touching 1.8 million roles, marking a 16% increase over 2024 and 31% growth compared to 2022, according to data released by Quess Corp.

The rebound has been largely powered by Global Capability Centres (GCCs), which now account for nearly 27% of total IT hiring demand. In contrast, hiring by traditional IT services companies remains modest and highly selective, reflecting continued caution around volume-based recruitment.

The composition of demand is also undergoing a sharp shift. More than 50% of hiring in 2025 is concentrated in emerging digital skills, including artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), cloud computing, cybersecurity, data engineering, DevOps, and platform engineering. Meanwhile, demand for legacy technology skills has dropped to below 10% of overall hiring.

Geographically, IT hiring continues to be metro-centric, with around 88–90% of roles located in Tier-1 cities. However, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are gradually gaining share as companies expand distributed delivery models.

Looking ahead to 2026, overall IT hiring in India is projected to grow by 12–15%, led by GCC expansions and AI-first, cloud, and cybersecurity mandates. The growth, however, is expected to remain quality-led rather than volume-driven, signaling a continued focus on high-impact, specialized roles.