The report identifies five primary skill areas—development, ERP, testing, networking, and data science—accounting for 79 per cent of the total demand
Quess Corp, India’s leading business solutions provider, has released the “IT Staffing Quarterly Digital Skills Report Q2FY25,” offering valuable insights into the evolving technology skills landscape. Despite global uncertainties, the report highlights a cautiously optimistic outlook, underscoring the resilience and growth potential within India’s IT sector. While traditional programming skills remain in demand, the report reveals a notable shift towards cybersecurity, DevOps, and analytics, reflecting the sector’s dynamic nature.
Kapil Joshi, CEO of Quess IT Staffing, commented on the evolving tech hiring landscape: “Reskilling and upskilling, combined with the proliferation of Global Capability Centres (GCCs), are driving India’s tech growth. Quess has partnered with over 200 GCCs across India, facilitating the placement of over 15,000 technology professionals since FY22. Looking ahead, we anticipate a strong rise in IT hiring in the manufacturing and BFSI sectors. Emerging technologies such as generative AI, deep tech, and quantum computing are poised to create over a million jobs by 2030. While challenges persist, India’s IT industry is well-positioned to grow 10–12 per cent in the next six months.”
Key Trends & Skills In Demand
The report identifies five primary skill areas—development, ERP, testing, networking, and data science—accounting for 79 per cent of the total demand. Java, a cornerstone for AI initiatives, saw a 30 per cent increase in demand across industries like IT services, fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, and telecom. DevOps, essential for bridging the gap between development and operations, experienced a 25 per cent surge in demand, driven by its adoption in BFSI, retail, IT services, and telecom.
The growing need for AI/ML roles also stands out, with a 30 per cent rise in demand over the previous quarter. Cybersecurity continues to be a critical focus, with hiring increasing by 20 per cent, highlighting the need for robust digital defences.
Mid-Tier IT Firms & Sectoral Shifts
Mid-tier IT services firms led the demand for tech talent at 37 per cent, followed by hi-tech and consulting firms (11 per cent each), manufacturing (9 per cent), and BFSI (8 per cent). The manufacturing sector witnessed increased demand in semiconductors, electronics, and electrical industries, underscoring its adaptability to technological advancements. The consulting industry’s expansion reflects India’s growing economy and the need for strategic guidance in digital transformation.
Global Capability Centres: A Hiring Powerhouse
Global Capability Centres (GCCs) have emerged as major drivers of tech hiring, particularly in AI/ML, analytics, cybersecurity, cloud, and DevOps. These technologies are being applied across sectors such as healthcare and consumer goods, with companies adopting advanced cloud security measures and DevOps practices to enhance digital platforms.
Cybersecurity remains a crucial area, with a 58 per cent growth in demand since the previous quarter. Bangalore leads the charge, accounting for 64 per cent of cybersecurity hiring, driven by the need to counter rising cyber threats and comply with stringent data privacy regulations.
Growing Focus On Tier-2 and Tier-3 Cities
India’s tech landscape is experiencing a shift beyond traditional hubs, with Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities gaining prominence. Bengaluru remains the leader, accounting for 43.5 per cent of demand, followed by Hyderabad (13.4 per cent) and Pune (10 per cent). Companies are increasingly tapping into the talent pools of smaller cities as GCCs expand their operations, seeking skilled professionals in engineering, IT, finance, and analytics.
The findings in this report are based on data from Quess IT Staffing’s operations, mapping demand and supply across the talent ecosystem. The report offers a clear understanding of the evolving tech hiring landscape, providing leaders with actionable insights into emerging trends and demand dynamics in Q2FY25.
India’s IT sector, driven by rapid digital transformation and emerging technologies, continues to evolve, offering significant opportunities for growth and innovation.
