The surge in hiring is evident within GCCs (Global Capability Centers) who are increasingly employing fresh talent and offering more attractive salaries, particularly for in-demand skills. A recent report has indicated that novice professionals can anticipate a 40% surge in recruitment by GCCs, a sharp contrast from last year’s employment figures. IT services companies are expected to project a growth of 20-25% in recruitment, as the demand for skills in software development, globally recognized coding languages, and data engineering continues to fuel this growth.
Mid-level positions in project management, data science, and cybersecurity depict a steady demand, with pay packages growing annually by a margin of 7.89% to 10.2%. More senior roles are seeing a sharp rise in demand by 21%, which reflects the strategic requirement for professionals with expertise in IT fields such as DevOps, Product Management and Data Engineering. These positions also reflected an increase in salary, ranging from 6.54% to 10.8%.
Neeti Sharma, the CEO of TeamLease Digital, emphasizes how crucial it is for companies to align their talent strategies with rapidly changing technological advancements, specifically AI and cloud computing. She states that investing in upskilling programs is not just a prerogative but a necessity, allowing professionals to remain competitive in this dynamic environment. This alignment, according to her, will be crucial in driving sustainable growth and innovation in the years to come.
The report also sheds light on the key role of AI, Machine Learning (ML), and automation in driving demand for data-related roles. It states that 69% Data Science job advertisements in the year 2024 explicitly mentioned Machine Learning skills, with the demand for Natural Language Processing (NLP) rising significantly from 5% to 19%. During recruitment, companies expressed a clear preference for professionals with proficiency in Python, Agile Scrum, AWS security, JavaScript, and Ethical Hacking.
As GCCs rapidly shift to cloud-based infrastructure, there’s a surge in demand for cloud engineers, developers, and architects. Platform-specific certifications in AWS and Microsoft Azure are fast becoming critical. Consequently, India anticipates needing more than two million cloud professionals by FY 2025, as the country witnesses a growth in the adoption of cloud technologies across various sectors.
The report underscores that upskilling is an urgent need in the face of a talent deficit, given that 63% of tech employees chose to refrain from upskilling last year. Time constraints (73%) and lack of managerial support (42%) were identified as primary deterrents. Professionals seeking to level up are encouraged to pursue certifications in cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity – skills considered essential for career trajectory.
The report highlighted that salary variations are greatly influenced by the cost of living, regional policies, and the concentration of tech companies in a particular state. Cities known to be innovation hubs, like Bangalore and Hyderabad, naturally offer more competitive salaries compared to their smaller counterparts like Kochi and Coimbatore. Nonetheless, tier-2 cities are slowly coming into the limelight with more companies tapping into the talent pool versus before.
Hyderabad’s friendly governmental policies have managed to attract promising tech investments which in turn have resulted in higher salaries. On the other hand, in cities like Bangalore and Delhi, a higher cost of living has necessitated higher wages compared to places like Ahmedabad.
