FRESHER HIRING IN INDIA
Zomato, Swiggy's GST woes; Amazon's $200-million Axio deal
With the overhaul of India's GST regime, food delivery companies Zomato and Swiggy stare at a new tax burden. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
Urban Company, Boat IPOs; India's first semiconductor chip
Urban Company, Boat get IPO nods, this and more in today's ETtech Top 5
TCS finally rolls out annual salary increments; average hike at 4.5-7%
TCS has rolled out delayed salary hikes of 4.5–7% for junior to mid-level staff, effective from September 1, 2025, with top performers getting over 10%. It is understood to be the lowest hike in the last four years given the slowing business environment’s impact on the IT industry and TCS financials.
White-collar hiring up 3 pc in Aug; non-IT, AI-ML roles drive growth
India's white-collar job market saw a modest 3% hiring increase in August 2025, fueled by non-IT sectors and AI/ML roles, which surged by 54%. While IT faced a 6% decline, IT unicorns grew by 10%. Hyderabad led metro hiring with 10% growth and a 45% unicorn recruitment surge, highlighting its emergence as a startup hub.
Etailers intensify festive hiring; Indian GenAI’s talent crisis
Ecommerce companies are hiring more than they did in the past two years as the busy festive season shapes up. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
India's GenAI boom faces talent drought
India's digital economy is booming, but a shortage of skilled AI engineers threatens growth. Demand for AI and cloud computing professionals will surge. Global Capability Centers are driving tech hiring, especially in AI. Salaries for AI and cybersecurity experts are rising sharply. Traditional sectors are also seeking AI and cloud talent. Legacy IT roles are becoming obsolete.
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RBI’s AI reset; ETSA ‘Startup of the Year’ nominees
The central bank’s new AI framework will send banks back to the drawing board. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
HCLTech uses AI to enhance jobs, not cut them: Chairperson Roshni Nadar
At HCLTech’s AGM, chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra assured shareholders that AI will transform, not replace, jobs. Emphasising reskilling, the company plans to hire more for AI roles and build a high-paid elite workforce. This comes amid sector-wide hiring slowdown and contrasts with the recent large-scale layoffs at rival firm TCS.
As firms pivot, AI-led layoffs here to stay
Global layoffs in tech are accelerating as companies realign workforces for the AI era. In India, firms like TCS and Oracle are trimming jobs, with middle management and entry-level coding roles most vulnerable. Experts predict major restructuring by 2026, shifting demand from bulk hiring to specialised AI and data skills.
Nominees for The Economic Times Startup Awards 2025; and other top stories this week
Welcome to a new edition of ETtech Unwrapped – our weekend newsletter packed with the most important stories from this week. Let’s take a look at the recap.
Future of IT in India: Redditor says its impossible to re-enter into IT, layoffs are common
While NASSCOM forecasts significant IT job growth in India, some tech professionals express skepticism, citing hiring freezes, layoffs, and reduced campus recruitment. Despite industry reports indicating continued expansion, albeit at a slower pace, many freshers and experienced professionals face challenges securing or re-entering the IT workforce. Salary data suggests competitive earnings, but opportunities may be limited.
Real-money gaming ends, why startups turn to IPOs
The Lok Sabha passed a Bill proposing a sweeping ban on real-money gaming. This and more on today's ETtech Top 5.
Fresher hiring intent slips to 70% in H2
India Inc's fresher hiring shows a cooling trend. The intent has declined to 70% for July to December. AI-led restructuring and global uncertainties contribute to this moderation. E-commerce and tech startups still lead hiring. Bangalore tops cities with 81% intent. Apprenticeship models are also on the rise. Manufacturing, engineering, and IT sectors show high apprenticeship intent.
Ecommerce, tech startups to lead fresher hiring in India for Jul-Dec: Report
Ecommerce and tech startups will drive fresher hiring in India in H2 2025, with 88% employers keen to recruit, followed by retail (87%) and manufacturing (82%), says TeamLease EdTech.
Fresher hiring intent slips to 70% in H2 2025
A recent report indicates a slight cooling in India Inc's fresher hiring intent, dropping to 70% for July-December 2025 due to AI-led restructuring and global uncertainties. E-commerce and technology startups lead hiring at 88%, with Bangalore topping city-wise intent at 81%. Demand rises for degree apprenticeships and roles requiring cybersecurity, AI, and crucial soft skills like communication and problem-solving.
Muted IT hiring to focus on skill-driven freshers
Software services firms are adopting a cautious hiring approach, prioritizing skill-driven freshers with an anticipated growth of 3-5% in the second half of the year. This strategic shift focuses on junior roles and niche mid-levels, particularly in AI, cloud, and platform domains, driven by cost optimization and the demand for specialized skills.
Credit on UPI; Amazon rushes into quick commerce
Banks are finally looking to disburse loans via UPI, with initial trials in progress. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Cognizant to roll out wage hikes for 80% of eligible employees effective Nov 1
The company, during its second quarter earnings, had said that it plans to award merit-based salary increases for the vast majority of employees during the second half of 2025.
Cognizant raises staff pay; Wipro, Warburg eye Harman's biz
IT major Cognizant announced pay hikes for 80% of its staff. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
FII selling crosses Rs 50,000 crore in IT stocks in 2025. Is tech dead money or just misunderstood?
FIIs have heavily sold Indian IT stocks in 2025, causing a significant downturn and making it the worst-performing sector. Disappointing earnings and layoffs have fueled the sell-off, impacting major companies like TCS. While valuations are now more attractive, analysts are cautiously optimistic, suggesting a potential tactical bounce but emphasising the need for a new technology cycle for a sustained recovery.
Zoho's Sridhar Vembu has a big warning for students entering IT industry, hints at a 'borrowing' crisis hurting young people
A student's ₹70L debt for a US master's degree highlights the risks of heavy borrowing for education, especially with a challenging IT job market. The author urges caution, advocating for employer-funded training programs and industry acceptance of alternative credentials to prevent trapping young people in debt. Companies should invest in skill development.
17 crore jobs created under Modi rule in 10 years: Mansukh Mandaviya to Parliament
The Modi government created 17 crore jobs in ten years. This is a significant increase from the UPA's 3 crore jobs. The government provided 11 lakh jobs in the last 16 months. PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana will create over 4 crore jobs with a Rs 2 lakh crore outlay. The scheme incentivizes job creation, focusing on first-timers and employers.
IT sector hiring down 1% YoY in July; AI, ML see continued surge at 41%: Naukri JobSpeak report
India’s IT sector saw a 1% YoY dip in hiring activity in July, according to Naukri’s JobSpeak report, marking a slowdown from June’s 5% growth. However, demand for roles in artificial intelligence and machine learning remained strong, showing stability despite the broader decline in tech recruitment.
Top tech and startup stories this week
Welcome to a new edition of ETtech Unwrapped – our weekend newsletter packed with the most important stories this week. Let’s take a look.
White-collar hiring grows 7% in July: Report
India’s white-collar job market grew 7% YoY in July, driven by strong hiring in non-IT sectors like hospitality (+26%), insurance (+22%), and education (+16%). Fresher hiring rose 8%, with a 35% jump in education alone. While IT hiring remained flat, AI-ML roles surged 41%. High-paying jobs (₹20L+ bracket) grew 21%, led by data science (+40%).
Cognizant posts 14% increase in Q2 profit to beat own estimate, raises full-year guidance
Cognizant exceeded its Q2 2025 revenue expectations, reporting an 8.1% YoY increase to $5.25 billion, alongside a 13.9% profit growth. This growth was fueled by strong performance across geographies and verticals, despite a slight contraction in health sciences. The company has revised its full-year revenue guidance upwards, anticipating contributions from recent acquisitions and a surge in AI-driven projects.
School Assembly Headlines for August 1: Top national, international, sports and business updates
Today's headlines cover a range of significant events, from the upcoming release of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi installment and successful DRDO missile tests to trade tensions with the U.S. and a new head coach for the Indian football team. Microsoft is poised to reach a $4 trillion market cap, while Infosys plans to hire 20,000 freshers amidst IT sector restructuring.
Specialised hiring in demand; Reliance’s spacetech bet
Happy Thursday! Tech firms are moving away from mass hiring and scouting specialised talent. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.
IT firms pivot from mass fresher hires to specialised talent signups
Tech firms are rethinking how they hire freshers. The era of mass intake is fading as companies chase niche talent with specialised skills, while automation reshapes the industry. Demand for niche skills such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, and cybersecurity is on the rise.
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