FRESHER RECRUITMENT
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
TCS to freeze senior hiring, pause annual salary hikes
Onboarding delays for those with experience who have been hired exceeds 65 days, according to the people cited. The Tata Group unit has already started phasing out hundreds of benched staff in Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Kolkata, in line with its new policy that mandates such employees to find projects in 35 days or leave. TCS did not comment on the development.
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.
AI, enterprise demand underpin high staff deployment at Infosys: CEO Salil Parekh
As the sector faces an AI-led employee shift, Infosys is betting on skills over job cuts. CEO Salil Parekh said the company is experiencing strong demand from clients in areas where it has strong skills. He reiterated the company’s target of hiring 20,000 freshers during FY26, which was set at the end of the previous fiscal year.
No layoffs at Infosys: India's second-largest IT company plans to hire more amid buzz over TCS job cuts
TCS’s decision to lay off over 12,000 staff has sent ripples through India’s IT sector, raising fears of wider job losses. Infosys, however, has ruled out layoffs for now, sticking to its goal of hiring 20,000 graduates while investing heavily in AI training. CEO Salil Parekh highlighted the company's long-term focus on reskilling and adaptability as key to navigating global headwinds. As the industry shifts, Indian IT giants are recalibrating growth strategies to balance talent, automation, and evolving client demands.
IT sector hiring rose 5% YoY in June; AI, ML see 42% spike: Naukri JobSpeak Report
After a year of slow activity, the IT sector recorded a 5% increase in hiring, with tier-II cities driving the recovery. Senior IT professionals with over 16 years of experience were in high demand, with hiring for this group up by 16%.
Small cities, big future: Tier-II & III towns emerge as hotspots for GCC growth in India
India's tier-II and III cities are emerging as attractive destinations for Global Capability Centers (GCCs), driven by govt support, state incentives, and a growing ecosystem. This shift promises inclusive development, job creation beyond metros, and relief from infrastructure pressures in major cities. While challenges remain, strategic investments and policy support can unlock the full potential of these emerging hubs.
India’s AI talent gap widens as demand surges
Technology companies are struggling to find enough AI experts. The demand for AI skills is rising faster than the supply. Firms like HCLTech and Publicis Sapient are changing how they hire. They seek adaptable talent and offer high salaries for niche AI skills. Startups like StaqU value practical experience over formal qualifications.
Top six IT firms saw staff additions plunge 72% in Q1
Among the largest software service providers, only two including the top two leaders Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys reported an increase in workforce by 5060 and 210 people between April and June. The remaining four - HCLTech, Wipro, TechM and LTIMindtree - witnessed a cumulative dip of 1,423 people.
IT sector adds fewer hands; BigBasket’s muted financials
Happy Friday! Hiring in India’s IT sector declined significantly in the April-June quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
AI-assisted coding is the way to go when hiring graduates: LTIMindtree CEO
Venugopal Lambu said there was more emphasis in terms of the learning ability, and the foundational skill sets that freshers have on which companies can build, using their training and learning methods. “So those assessments will always improvise it…Whenever we hire people, we take all those aspects, whether it is related to the coding roles, cloud roles or infrastructure roles or data roles,” he said.
Top earners fear creativity loss in AI era, even as salaries soar: Naukri report
A recent report reveals that high-earning professionals in India fear AI's impact on creativity. The survey of over 60,000 job seekers shows that while most see AI as a friend, concerns exist. AI-related roles are growing with higher salaries, especially for skilled individuals. Sectors beyond IT, like banking and accounting, are also experiencing increased AI hiring.
Fresher hiring rebounds as white-collar job market grows 11% in June: Naukri
India's white-collar job market experienced an 11% surge in June, fueled by robust hiring in service sectors and a resurgence in fresher recruitment. Hospitality, BPO/ITES, and Real Estate led the growth, while IT hiring rebounded, particularly in tier-II cities. AI/ML roles continued to expand significantly, and high-salary positions saw increased demand.
Fresher hiring in India goes up by 11% in June, Naukri report says
India's job market saw an 11% increase in fresher hiring in June 2025, driven by accounting, insurance, and AI/ML sectors. Several cities emerged as a key hiring hub for freshers, while IT hiring turned positive in tier-II cities. The insurance sector experienced significant growth, and startups in Pune, Bengaluru, and Chennai led hiring surges.
TCS starts hiring with 10,000 jobs to freshers: Here are recruitment test details, hiring dates, roles, salary package
TCS plans to initiate second hiring phase, recruiting 10,000 freshers. The move brings optimism amidst declining IT sector recruitment. Fresh talent assessed through National Qualifier Test (NQT), with tests scheduled for April 26. TCS offers three categories: Ninja, Digital, and Prime, with varying annual packages. Recruitment drive commenced in January, targeting campus hires. TCS aims to onboard 40,000 freshers, emphasizing talent developmen
March sees highest number of fresher job postings : Survey
The Hiring Trends Report by career-tech platform Internshala shows that more than 58% of freshers were hired in the field of management, followed by engineering accounting for 15% of hiring.
TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Accenture to use Nasscom's NAC-Tech test for entry-level hiring
The scores of this test will be calibrated with the internal test that these companies will conduct for all the engineering students.
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