India’s technology hiring is diverging into two distinct trends, with overall demand for tech work up 10% annually even as entry-level IT roles ease, according to a report from job site foundit released on 6 August 2026. The IT occupation index rose 10% year-on-year, while the IT industry index fell 6%.
The split reflects where tech work is being created. The IT industry’s share of fresher hiring eased from 32% to 24%, a sign that many technology roles are now opening up outside traditional IT firms, in banks, manufacturers, healthcare companies and global capability centres. Fresher hiring overall declined 2% month-on-month and 10% year-on-year.
AI is reshaping the entry point into the workforce. The report said AI-led roles now account for 4% of entry-level hiring, up from around 1% a year ago. Rather than hiring graduates mainly to build AI models, employers are increasingly recruiting talent to operate, validate and optimise AI systems.
Experience is now the dividing line in the market. Across the board, the 7 to 10-year experience band was the only cohort to grow, up 2% month-on-month and 11% year-on-year, underlining that demand is concentrating in mid-senior, higher-skill roles even as fresher intake softens.
