For the first time in six months, India’s hiring landscape shows cautious optimism. Active tech job openings rose 8% in February – the first uptick since August. This rebound is modest – overall hiring remains below last year’s pace – but notable shifts are underway. Remote tech roles soared 67% from January even as many big firms mandate office returns, signaling that flexible work may be regaining ground. Mid-career professionals remain the most sought-after, while entry-level demand is flat – a sign of today’s “skills-first” mindset.
Global currents are feeding this trend. LinkedIn data shows India’s hiring is 40% above pre-pandemic levels even as the US and Europe see slowdowns. U.S. tech giants added over 32,000 jobs in India last year, drawn by the deep talent pool and cost edge. This reversal of brain drain – hastened by visa hurdles abroad – has companies building teams where the talent is, instead of relocating it overseas.
Companies are backing this optimism with action. Hitachi, for instance, will hire 5,000 more people in India over five years, betting on the country’s infrastructure and AI boom. And firms are fortifying HR leadership: Schneider Electric and Vedanta each hired new CHROs this month to sharpen their talent strategies.
HR teams, meanwhile, are retooling their playbooks. Many are deploying AI-driven hiring tools – from resume-screening bots to smart recruiting chatbots – to speed up hiring and cut bias. Internal mobility is getting a fresh push as employers upskill and promote from within. These priorities will be front and center at the World HRD Congress in Mumbai (Feb 16–18), which is themed around the future of work – from tech innovation to employee well-being and employer branding. In 2026, smart hiring is about being both bold and balanced.
People to Watch: HRs Doing the Work
Anuranjita Kumar – Former CHRO at Citi & Founder at WiT India. Now driving conversations around DEI, leadership, and building inclusive tech teams.
Sahil Nayar – Senior Associate Director – HR at KPMG India. Writes often about leadership, workplace design, and employer brand.
Sandeep Chaudhary – CEO at PeopleStrong. Deep in the HR tech ecosystem, often shares insights on AI in hiring and what future-ready HR looks like.
Ruchira Bhardwaja – CHRO at Kotak Life. Strong voice in leadership culture and hiring at scale. Worth tracking for how large orgs are adapting.
Ajit Menon – Org psychologist & co-founder of Emprize. Not your typical HR voice, brings systems thinking to culture, conflict, and people strategy.
On the house: If high-volume hiring and coordination are draining your team, platforms like Spleen.ai are emerging to automate the grind, so HRs can focus on org-building, culture, and leadership.
Until next week,
The Shortlist