Tech jobs accounted for over 51% of all active openings, crossing the 50% mark for the first time this fiscal. But employers are becoming more discerning, favouring versatile, full-stack talent as AI reshapes job roles.

The push came from IT services, which recovered 30% MoM to 57,000 openings, the highest since 80,000 in February 2025 and up 33% YoY, according to Xpheno's Active Tech Jobs Outlook.

Full-time roles dominate at 90,000 (77% share), up 11% MoM, while mid-senior roles account for 64,000 openings (55% share). Freshness has also improved, with 45% of postings published or refreshed in the last two weeks.

HR consultants that DH spoke to said green shoots are visible, but hiring remains narrow and skills-led. "After a prolonged period of restrained activity, IT hiring is beginning to show signs of resurgence. The approach, however, remains cautious and selective across IT Services and the broader technology employment market, with organisations prioritising specialised and experienced professionals who can contribute with greater depth and relevance," said Vidya Shankar, CEO & MD, Digtinctive, a business consulting & technology services enterprise.

"AI and digital technology capabilities are increasingly influencing hiring decisions. At the same time, established industry experience continues to be important, particularly for roles that require an understanding of business context alongside technology. It is not simply about one capability replacing another but about finding professionals who can bring the right combination of technical expertise, domain knowledge, and practical judgement," Shankar said.

He added that software testing and product development will stay in demand, along with continued expansion of GCCs and data centres.

GCC tech hiring itself is up 38% YoY to 18,000 in September, as per Xpheno. Selective hiring comes even as layoffs continue, underscoring a skills reset.

"The scale of tech layoffs in 2026 reflects a deeper shift in what organisations need from their workforce. The issue is no longer simply whether companies need fewer people, but whether they have the right skills in the right roles as AI changes how work gets done," said Aditya Singh, Founder and CEO, Benevolve, an AI-powered workforce management solutions provider.

With 87% of enterprises in India already using AI, Singh said skills intelligence is becoming critical to identify gaps and redeploy talent into emerging roles. For SMEs, the war for entry-level talent remains tough. "As a pure-play IT services SME competing head-on with Tier 1 and Tier 2 offshore Systems Integrators for entry-level talent, the odds are always stacked against us," said Preetam Kumar, Co-Founder & Member of the Board, Psiog.

Psiog said it is building broad-based, full-stack capabilities with a "skill coefficient of 2.5" - expertise across two technology tracks and intermediate proficiency in a third, making fungibility the core. "While AI is helping accelerate the evolution of this foundational core, the focus will pivot towards crafting 'mezzanine skills' around influence and judgment in cross-collaborative customer and partner settings," Kumar said.