Hiring in tech sector to grow 7% in FY 27: CII-Taggd Study

Hiring in India’s IT sector is projected to rise by 7% year-on-year in fiscal 2026–27, according to the India Decoding Jobs 2026 Report by Taggd, a digital recruitment platform, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The report, released at the CII Conference on Jobs & Future of Work: Critical Growth Enablers in New Delhi, attributes the growth to strong domestic macroeconomic factors, global IT firms setting up capability centres, and a robust talent base skilled in emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning. The government’s push for digitalisation and business-friendly regulations are further accelerating this momentum.

AI-first transformation reshapes the talent landscape

India’s IT sector is undergoing a structural transformation as enterprises invest heavily in replacing traditional processes with AI-first teams and workflows. With AI and GenAI spending expected to touch USD 6 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 33.7% (IDC), large-scale deployments are creating strong demand for AI and machine learning engineers, data scientists, cloud architects, and cybersecurity specialists — even as routine tasks get automated.

The report notes that demand for AI professionals in India is expected to surpass 1 million by end-2026. “AI adoption is rapidly transforming recruitment and business operations — 44% of organisations have already deployed AI, while another 37% plan to adopt it soon,” said Devashish Sharma, Co-Founder and CEO, Taggd.

Tier-2 cities emerge as the next growth frontier

The India Decoding Jobs 2026 Report also points to a surge in hiring across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, reflecting India’s expanding talent ecosystem beyond metros. By 2026, nearly 32% of new job roles are expected to originate from tier-2 cities, signalling a shift towards distributed growth and regional inclusion.

AI is also transforming the hiring process itself — 70% of Indian IT companies have already implemented AI tools in recruitment, while 20% are in the process of doing so. Nearly 80% of recruiters use AI for resume screening, and 60–70% leverage it for initial interviews.

IT Skills for 2026: Specialisation defines the tech workforce of the future

For FY26–27, the Indian IT hiring landscape will be defined by specialisation in high-demand skills, flexible work models, and a strategic focus beyond traditional tech hubs. As industries across sectors undergo rapid digitalisation, companies are reimagining their talent strategies to attract and retain top professionals in an increasingly competitive market. 

The 2026 edition of the India Decoding Jobs Report draws insights from over 300 CHROs and talent acquisition leaders across 21 industries, providing a comprehensive view of India’s evolving employment trends.