IT Hiring 2025: Amid the rollout of tighter H-1B visa norms this year, major US technology companies—including Meta (Facebook), Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix and Google (Alphabet)—closed 2025 after
collectively adding more than 32,000 employees in India.
This marks an 18 per cent year-on-year increase in Big Tech hiring in the country, taking their combined India workforce to about 214,000, according to data from specialist staffing firm Xpheno.
The hiring surge underscores the growing demand for specialised Indian technology talent, particularly in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence.
“The net headcount growth of this cohort in 2025 is the highest seen over the past three years,” said Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno.
What roles are in demand?
Data from Xpheno and TeamLease Digital shows that active job openings across the FAAMNG cohort currently range between 3,000 and 5,000.
Despite the rise in overall hiring, US tech giants are largely focusing on targeted, high-value roles rather than broad-based recruitment, said Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital.
In 2025, hiring was concentrated around advanced digital skills such as AI and ML operations, data engineering and analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity and governance. While overall net headcount growth remains muted, demand for these specialised roles has increased by nearly 25–30 per cent.
“Hiring is heavily skewed toward niche, high-impact skills rather than legacy support functions, reflecting a strategic shift toward innovation and emerging technologies,” Sharma said.
Karanth added that the full impact of AI adoption on hiring patterns is yet to play out, as companies are currently recruiting more for adjacent skill sets that strengthen AI capabilities rather than for pure AI roles.
“The AI-led changes in hiring will become more visible over the next two to three years,” he said.
What’s driving the hiring momentum?
The year saw global tech majors—including Microsoft, Google and Amazon—double down on investments in AI infrastructure while expanding their workforce in India. At the same time, new-age AI firms such as Perplexity AI and OpenAI have identified India as a key consumer market, prompting them to establish offices and data centres locally.
This optimism around India has coincided with significant changes to the US H-1B visa programme, a key route for hiring foreign tech talent. Historically, nearly 70–75 per cent of H-1B visas have gone to Indian applicants.
In 2025, however, the Donald Trump-led US administration introduced a $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications and reworked the lottery system to prioritise highly skilled and higher-paid workers.
While part of the hiring increase reflects pent-up demand, Karanth said evolving trade policies, higher visa costs and the potential impact of the proposed HIRE Act have prompted companies to reassess their global talent strategies.
“There is a clear trend toward faster loading of talent in India. The skill and cost arbitrage offered by local hiring remains far more attractive compared to overseas talent costs,” he said.
How much are Big Tech firms investing in India?
US tech giants have accelerated investments in India to deepen their talent base and strengthen global delivery capabilities.
During the October–December quarter, Google announced a $15 billion investment to set up a large-scale AI hub in Visakhapatnam, expected to generate over 100,000 jobs over five years. Microsoft committed $17.5 billion toward expanding cloud and AI infrastructure, skilling initiatives and sovereign digital capabilities.
Amazon has pledged $35 billion in investments in India over the next five years, spanning quick commerce and cloud services, and aims to create an additional one million jobs by 2030.
Other major moves include OpenAI’s announcement in August 2025 to open its first India office in New Delhi, Microsoft leasing 2.65 lakh square feet of office space in Hyderabad, Apple signing a 10-year lease in Bengaluru worth over Rs 1,010 crore, and Meta unveiling a new office in Bengaluru focused on engineering and product roles. Google also opened its Ananta campus in Bengaluru, one of its largest globally.
What does this mean for hiring in 2026?
Industry experts expect tighter H-1B norms to continue nudging US firms toward local hiring in India in 2026, although recruitment could moderate later in the year as policy clarity improves.
“A negotiated H-1B regime could revive expat hiring, but offshore locations like India will remain competitive on cost,” Karanth said, adding that India remains attractive even after factoring in potential levies under the proposed HIRE Act.
TeamLease Digital expects Big Tech hiring in India to grow 16–20 per cent in 2026, even as conventional IT hiring remains largely replacement-driven and grows in low single digits.
“Hiring will be increasingly selective and capability-led, focused on AI, data platforms, cloud infrastructure and security,” Sharma said, noting that companies are also working to reduce onsite dependency and deepen India-based ownership of global products.
Despite global layoffs and productivity gains driven by AI, India is likely to remain a key destination for Big Tech jobs in the years ahead.
