Technology Job Openings in India Rise 9% in March

Key Figures:

• 119,000: Active technology job listings in March 2026
• 9%: Month-on-month increase in technology job openings
• 19%: Lower hiring demand compared to the same period last year

According to the Active Tech Jobs Outlook - India for March 2026 released by Xpheno, a talent solutions firm, technology job openings in India rose 9% month-on-month in March, reaching their highest level in over three quarters. This indicates a short-term rebound in hiring, despite concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the sector.

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Hiring Trends:

The number of active technology job listings climbed to around 119,000 in March, marking the second consecutive monthly increase. However, hiring demand remains subdued overall, with active demand still about 19% lower compared to the same period last year. This highlights the broader slowdown that has persisted since the latter half of 2022.

Industry Shift:

Insights from Xpheno cofounder Kamal Karanth suggest that hiring activity in the January-March period typically rises due to companies anticipating stronger demand in the coming financial year or utilising remaining recruitment budgets. Under the current conditions, the latter explanation appears more likely.

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Job Roles:

Roles in consulting and advisory, business development, sales and marketing, and project management are currently driving hiring demand, as companies wait for clearer signals before expanding recruitment in core technology and engineering functions. Non-technology industries now account for 53% of the active demand for tech and engineering talent, a notable shift from the traditional dominance of the technology sector.